The first Frequent Flyer Program took to the skies in the early '80s when American Airlines rolled out an airline miles scheme called AAdvantage. It proved to be a huge hit and sophisticated Frequent Flyer Programs are now provided by major airlines the world over.
What is a Frequent Flyer Program?
A Frequent Flyer Program is an airline loyalty scheme that offers a raft of travel related perks such as free flights, air ticket discounts and cabin upgrades. A customer who has enrolled in such a program will earn flyer miles (frequent flyer points) based on the amount of miles travelled with that particular airline. These flyer miles can be used to take advantage of the airline’s frequent flyer benefits.
What Makes a Good Frequent Flyer Program?
Airlines which are part of a strong alliance are a wise choice for travellers who want flexibility. Some airlines also offer frequent flyer credit cards where extra points can be accumulated by simply spending with the card. Family frequent flyer schemes are also offered by some airlines. However, when it comes to which airlines offer the best value flyer miles, things can get a little confusing. A good place to begin to decipher the small print is the independent Frequent Flyer information website Webflyer.com.
What are Airline Alliances and Partners?
Airline alliances offer added flexibility by allowing a traveller to accumulate points by travelling with affiliated airlines. Most airlines also partner up with other travel related businesses such as hotels and car rental companies as well as restaurants and shops. This gives traveller the added benefit of being able to build on their points while on the ground.
Are there downsides to Frequent Flyer Programs?
Due to scarce free seat availability, Frequent Flyer Programs don't offer the same level of benefits they once did. Even with a large amount of accumulated air points, a traveller can still be limited by where, when, and how they fly. Flexibility is key to making the most of frequent flyer rewards and it pays to read the small print when signing up to a program.
Just the Ticket for Frequent Travellers?
Although Frequent Flyer Programs aren't as lucrative as they once were, anyone who takes to the skies regularly or is planning a long haul flight can benefit quite nicely from joining a Frequent Flyer Scheme. As an added incentive, many airlines offer a tiered program where travellers can be bumped up from silver, to Gold, or even Platinum based on how many airline miles they've accumulated. The higher up the tier a traveller makes it, the better the perks become.
