Airline loyalty programs encourage airline customers to accumulate points (or miles) that can be redeemed for air travel. Many airlines also offer co-branded credit cards that give customers additional earning opportunities on a wide variety of purchases.
Airline elite status benefits include complimentary upgrades, free checked bags and priority boarding. These perks, like those offered by American and other airlines, are important in influencing customer loyalty.
Maximize Points and Miles
Airline loyalty programs have become a critical driver of customer engagement, especially in the travel industry. However, the industry is facing a major inflection point that could change how airlines engage with their customers. In an increasingly competitive market, airline loyalty programs need to be more focused on creating a personalized travel experience than simply accumulating points and miles.
Despite the fact that many members have been frustrated by the recent devaluation of airline loyalty programs due to dynamic pricing and overpopulated high-status tiers, some airlines remain a desirable destination for frequent travelers. For example, Delta SkyMiles program has lost some momentum because of its dynamic pricing, but the airline still retains value for those who want to earn elite status through credit card spending and take advantage of mileage promotions.
Every passenger exhibits a unique travel behavior, and each one deserves an immersive and customized loyalty experience. With digital loyalty solutions like PassKit, you can collect and analyze customer data to single out your most valuable passengers and offer them exclusive benefits. In addition, you can benchmark your loyalty program against those of industry leaders to identify areas for improvement.
Frequent Flyer Programs
Airline loyalty programs are designed to reward fidelity to a specific airline. Travelers enroll in these programs for free and earn points (with miles being the standard unit of currency) every time they fly or use other services associated with the program, such as dining partnerships and car rental programs. Once a certain number of points is achieved, they can be redeemed for rewards, such as free flights.
Aside from earning points by flying, travelers can also acquire them through credit card partners or by purchasing merchandise with an airline’s Du lich Trung Quoc online store. Travelers should review the frequent flyer programs they participate in to ensure that they have a strong mix of opportunities to maximize their accumulation.
The best airline loyalty programs are those that have good redemption rates, extensive partnerships and flexible routing rules. Additionally, they should have easy-to-use apps and phone lines to book awards. Lastly, they should offer access to their own airlines’ award inventory, which opens up more redemption options for travelers, even if these seats are priced higher than those available on partner airlines.
Earn Airline Miles
Airline loyalty programs offer a variety of ways to earn miles and redeem them for travel. Start by choosing your preferred airline and joining its loyalty program. From there, consider credit cards that earn airline points and miles and online shopping portals to maximize your earning potential.
Airline loyalty programs offer a variety of rewards including free flights, perks like airport lounge access and upgrades on future trips. Getting an airline co-branded credit card can also help you earn more miles and get a better value for the money spent on airfare. Many airlines also partner with shopping and dining portals that offer additional opportunities to earn points and miles on everyday spending. Some programs allow members to pool their points and miles with family and friends, which can make it even easier to reach travel redemption goals.
Credit Card Travel Rewards
Many travel cards offer the option to earn miles or points through airline loyalty programs. These rewards are generally credited to your card account monthly and can be redeemed according to the frequent flyer program rules. Some airline credit cards also allow you to earn additional travel rewards through airline shopping portals and dining partners. Keep in mind, though, that paying a credit card balance with earned travel rewards could negate the value of those points or miles.
Airline loyalty programs have access to reams of data about their customers as they surf on Wi-Fi, sleep in their hotels and fly on their flights. Yet many travel brands have not fully capitalized on this opportunity to offer personalized experiences for their members.
For example, United Airlines MileagePlus program members have earned more than $22 billion worth of miles2Brian Sumers, Skift, June 15, 2019) through purchases at hundreds of thousands of retail and restaurant partners. Airline loyalty programs are not just customer retention tools; they’re increasingly becoming key revenue drivers. This is why it’s important for them to evolve with the changing customer and market landscape.
Airline Elite Status Benefits
Many airlines offer elite status benefits — which vary by airline — for their most loyal customers. The perks might include complimentary upgrades, a chance to get on early for same-day standby, or priority boarding. In addition, elite status might give you easier access to premium cabin seats.
To earn status, you usually must hit a minimum number of elite qualifying miles or flight segments. Airlines typically tally these benchmarks over a calendar year. Once you reach the threshold, you enjoy the perks for the rest of that year and into the first couple of years afterward.
For example, American’s AAdvantage program lets members with its top-tier Concierge Key status choose systemwide upgrade travel certificates that can be used to upgrade one cabin class for up to three segment flights. Depending on availability, the tickets can be applied to the passenger of your choice, including those who aren’t AAdvantage elite members.
Other elite status perks can include higher mileage-earning rates on award flights and free checked bags. Those benefits can be valuable if you fly frequently, especially since several airlines recently increased their baggage fees. But before you decide to pursue airline elite status, figure out the perks that matter most to you and consider other ways to get them.