Automatic renewals and lowered requirements, here are the decisions of major loyalty programs
The 2021 numbers speak of a restart of traffic and travel, but the limitations still in place, or [...]
Virgin Atlantic
Tap Air Portugal
Swiss
Singapore Airlines
Lufthansa
KLM
ITA Airways
Finnair
Emirates
Brussels Airlines
British Airways
Austrian Airlines
Air France
Aeroflot
Star Alliance
SkyTeam
Oneworld
Marriott
The 2021 numbers speak of a restart of traffic and travel, but the restrictions still in place, or those recently lifted, have imposed a significant drag on travelers, especially long-haul travel.
In this article:
For this almost all loyalty programs has decided to remain close to its members, although in some cases a slow return to normalcy has begun.
In this article we want to summarize the decisions of the major players for the Italian market.
Alitalia/ITA Airways
We start, of course, with the national airline. The old Alitalia has ceased to exist and the program Millemiglia is frozen waiting to find a new master. ITA instead announced. Flying, the name of his club which will come to life in 2022. In the meantime, it has launched a status match campaign which was very successful.
Air France & KLM
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The Franco-Dutch duo in this 2021 did everything to avoid losing passengers. The first strategy was to Give away double XP points for all flights made until the end of the year by its members, then announced the Extension of all expiring statuses by 12 months. In addition, as of January 1, 2022, Flying Blue members. Will no longer receive physical cards because everything will be only digital in the name of saving money and the environment.
British Airways
Slow return to normalcy for British carrier, but also surprises such as return to fleet Of the A380 ready to fly again and against all odds. While AF/KLM gave away double XP points for attaining/renewing status, BA confirmed the cut in level points needed to renew/obtain status in the Executive Club.In addition, all statuses expiring in 2021 were renewed by 12 months.
Lufthansa
2021 was supposed to be the year of revolution at Miles&More, the loyalty program of Lufthansa and all of the German carrier's subsidiaries, instead pandemic stopped the change that would have led to status earned primarily on the basis of spending and not to points or miles flown. In recent months we have also seen a broadening of the Methods of access to exclusive LH lounges, which are also open to Amex Platinum holders. Not forgetting the rstatus innovo And an extension of the validity of miles.
Virigin Atlantic
It is not an active company in the Italian market, but it is certainly one of the most interesting in the European market. Flying Club members saw themselves, during 2021, renewed statuses for 2 times. Also VA has been featured in an aggressive status match campaign to steal customers from BA. Finally just recently the company announced the reduction of the requirements for obtaining/renewing of status, as well as some facilities through 2022.
Many other companies have undertaken similar initiatives, for example, the European Tap Portugal, Finnair, SAS and Aeroflot. But also Emirates, Etihad, Singapore and American carriers.
Although they have suffered less from the bans due to domestic tourism, hotels, starting with the major chains, have also made such decisions.
Hilton
The U.S. chain in 2020 halved the requirements and renewed statuses to all members; later this year it implemented a similar strategy. Elite status renewed to all, but requirements for renewal in 2022 will not be so generous, a sign of a slow return to normalcy.
Marriott
The world's largest group with a portfolio of more than 7 thousand facilities was the latest to announce its strategy for Bonvoy program members. The decision was to renew until 2023 all statuses expiring in early 2022.
Of course, other hotel chains have also made similar decisions from Radisson to Hyatt, from Shangri-là to Accor.
