August, 2022 was special. While the team had a plan to launch the co-branded card in March, we simultaneously huddled in our small office, thinking about how we could build a travel experience that’s as good as the card experience. The strategy was already aligned with building a travel platform along with the card benefits.
It started with a simple website and a typeform. But this wasn't a typical "enter name, email, phone number" form. We crafted questions that made people smile, think, and share their travel stories with us.
Sometimes the best talent finds you. When one of the members of the core team shared the form with his friends and family. We didn't just get beta users – we found future teammates too.
Building in the shadows
Our first customer service query pinged while our team was on a trip to Goa. Sand between the toes when they helped a customer reschedule their flight. That set the tone – no matter where we are, customer satisfaction comes first.
By the numbers still by the heart
- 600 wonderful beta users trusted us with their travel dreams
- 1,500+ travellers were on the waitlist
We saw the demand, we saw it was working. On 15 June 2023 when we launched the card, we opened the gates for travel bookings too. We still remember the first booking we got, everyone was hooked to the screen.
Beta taught us humility. Every failed test, every delayed email, and every refund settlement made us better. We built everything in-house – coin redemption, booking vaults, refund systems – because we believed in owning our mistakes and our victories.
Beyond bookings
Looking back, beta was never just about testing a flight booking system. It was about challenging the status quo. Why does travel booking have to be transactional? Why can't it be personal, meaningful and delightful?
We made mistakes. However, each challenge reinforced our belief that travel experiences deserve more than just another booking platform.
