Which airline reward programmes are the most well-liked by passengers, and how can you win their hearts? How are frequent flyer miles calculated? Which frequent flier programmes are the best? What sets them apart? Why should your travel agency make this investment? We’ve examined the best-performing airlines in terms of customer loyalty and compiled a list of the top suggestions for a loyalty programme for you.

How do frequent flyer miles work for airlines?

A loyalty programme run by an airline to reward patrons for their loyalty is known as the frequent flyer programme. For each mile you fly on a specific airline, you as a traveller get free miles. The same as credits, miles can be used to pay for extras like priority boarding, luggage, and other amenities on your flight. By airline, the program’s regulations differ.

There are “tiered” loyalty programmes offered by some airlines. The higher the tier, the better the perk. Tiers have varied benefits. Your tier will rise the more points you have.

What makes frequent flyer programmes unique?
The following are some key characteristics of the top airline frequent flyer programmes:

Values for earning and redeeming.

dates when the incentives aren’t valid (miles).
Benefits.
network protection.
Availability of award flights.
How simple it is to become a member of the elite (tier).
easy earning of miles.
The greatest loyalty programmes make it simple to trade in your miles for cash.
Additional benefits of membership (lounge, meals, special offers).

Why is it advantageous for your airline?

Here are the four reasons why the absence of an expiration date for your airline loyalty points might be advantageous for your brand, despite the widespread belief that having an expiration date creates a sense of urgency (resulting in more sales), inspires repeat business, and keeps your brand top-of-mind:

It lessens the urge to buy, which may result in greater consumer satisfaction.
By creating a charitable brand identity, it supports a long-term marketing plan.
It might provide firms with less flexible loyalty programmes a competitive edge.
Increased flexibility in using incentives and avoiding the pressure of needing to use loyalty points right away may increase customer happiness.
gaining points when travelling with partner airlines other than your own. More people will sign up for the loyalty programme if earning rewards is simple. It is crucial for individuals who are unable to stick with only one airline due to network restrictions.

Why is it advantageous for an airline?

If your network is constrained, it will be challenging to remain at the top of customers’ minds because they will continuously be looking for alternative carriers since you do not fly where they need to fly. They can’t accrue enough miles, thus they won’t benefit from your reward programme. Your clients might become addicted if you collaborate with other airlines in the area and offer diverse itineraries. They will only make reservations with airlines that are a part of the programme they are in, so you will be at the top of their list for the routes your network serves.

Why is it advantageous to an airline?

At times, it is less expensive to give away ancillaries than to raise the flight ticket. For the simple act of being mentioned, partner services may offer to provide benefits for your clients without charge. Who would want to hack/sell lounge access, checked luggage, or a priority lane? Additionally, it offers additional fraud protection. It might be the most affordable way to run a reward programme.

What makes you want it?

Customers will have a positive experience with your programme and your call centre costs will go down if they are aware of the restrictions from the start.

earning points for activities other than flying, such as completing surveys (TrueBlue from JetBlue) or making reservations for partner services like car rentals or hotels (Norwegian).

Why should an air carrier do it?

E-commerce relies heavily on staying in the forefront of your clients’ minds throughout the whole customer journey. Never let them forget about you! Additionally, if you own a sizable airline, you might even advertise it as a partner perk in the agreement.

being able to use the points for something other than just air travel. For instance, Norwegian lets you use loyalty points to purchase items from a variety of car rental providers, Get Your Guide, or even Groupon, while Avios (loyalty points from British Airways) may be used to pay for travel, lodging, and more (most of their partners participate in the program).

Why should you allow points to be redeemed at partner stores?

More satisfied customers with your loyalty programme because they can utilise the benefits for travel other than flying, which is ideal for less regular travellers. When it comes to flying, you become their first option if you remain at the front of their minds throughout all of their travel touchpoints.

Family members using your benefits: VIRGIN AUSTRALIA offers a family pooling option for up to six family members; ETIHAD offers a family membership account with up to eight family guests; EMIRATES offers a family option for up to eight family members, including domestic help; and JETBLUE’S offers a family pooling option for up to two adults and five children.

Why should you spend money on buying tickets for your customer’s family?

Customer advocacy – Your customers will spread the word about your programme to their friends and family. Personal recommendations from loved ones are the best form of advertising. Additionally, the children of the traveller will choose you first.

What to consider before launching an airline loyalty programme?

According to customers, we’ve selected the top benefits of frequent flyer programmes. Whether you own an airline, vehicle rental business, bus company, or travel agency, these qualities may be advantageous for your business. Every audience is different, therefore you should always study your client, conduct user research and testing, and A/B test your program’s rules and settings to find the best validation rules and best rewards. You can end up with distinct regulations for certain traveller types. There are no boundaries!