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Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in Archives

Finnair had to push back slightly the introduction of the Avios currency (and as such the mileage basis for its Finnair Plus program) to March 09, but has now provided more visibilty by publishing the future (mileage-based) award levels. Values are generally okay, but except for Finnair flights themselves certainly not attractive enough to make Finnair Plus the preferred program for all regular oneworld customers. The sector-based pricing also means that it often becomes prohibitive to use miles other than on direct flights. Some of the best deals, unfortunately all in Economy Class, include roundtrip flights between Qatar and Europe on Qatar Airways for 31,000 miles, Transatlantic flights on American Airlines for 46,000 miles or flights between Colombo and London on SriLankan Airlines also for 46,000 miles. This might open some opportunities as the currency will become fully exchangeable with other Avios-based programs.

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in Archives

Following pretty much the Italian model around the reincarnations of Alitalia, Maltese flag carrier Air Malta will cease operations on February 29 and be replaced by (debt-free) KM Malta Airlines on the following day. And in order to be debt-free, it will not take over the current Flypass program, but launch its own KM Rewards program (details about the program are not yet known). Flypass members can still use their miles, including on partner airlines Lufthansa and Swiss, by the end of February. But don’t worry if you don’t use all your miles by then: Air Malta has announced that it would pay a monetary value to all members with unclaimed miles in their accounts when the program closes – what is absolutely unprecedented in the 43-year history of Frequent Flyer Programs! The value per mile granted has though not yet been communicated, but you are likely to be better off nevertheless by claiming award flights if anyhow possible. But all such flights, presumably including on partner airlines, need to completed by March 30. Any redemption bookings on Air Malta already made for a later date will be cancelled and members will receive the corresponding monetary value per mile.

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in Archives

Several airlines are trying to find ways to make the programs quasi mandatory for everyone by introducing tangible benefits – next to the accrual of points – even for base members. Complimentary internet access is the most common approach, for instance recently introduced by Delta Air Lines in its SkyMiles program. American Airlines has chosen a different approach: As of March 01, all AAdvantage members can get free same-day flight changes on domestic flights on a standby basis (hence subject to availability). It is though worth noting that this only works on the same itinerary in case of connecting flights, but this definitely adds value when travelling on high-frequency routes.

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in Archives

Back in June 2023, Kenya Airways launched its own Frequent Flyer program, Asante Rewards, rather than offering the Flying Blue program on a common basis. However, details remain very opaque until here. The program has though now added Air France and KLM as first airline partners, but again no details about the accrual and redemption rules are known. Rather Air France is described as having Alitalia as partner and operating regional subsidiaries Brit Air, CityJet and Regional – all airlines, which haven’t been around anymore since long before Asante Rewards was launched. Redemption in the program will become available as of March, with award flights on Kenya Airways starting at 7,000 miles – but again with no more details available. Difficult to really get convinced to use the program on such a basis…

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in Archives

If your program status or your credit card program doesn’t allow you to access airport lounges, you still have the option to pay per visit in many lounges around the world. Or you opt, at least in 2024, to fly with Star Alliance member Asiana Airlines: Provided you are on a transit flight on Asiana through Seoul and – and that is certainly the most remarkable part of the offer – if you have booked your travel through a travel agent, you are entitled to use one of two Plaza Premium lounges at the airport either on the outbound or the inbound flight also in Economy Class, for up to three hours. Membership in the Asiana Club program is not required. In the meantime, there is no further visibility regarding the planned merger with Korean Air, which faces objections from several authorities worldwide.

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in CEO Blog

ravindra

I’ve been passionate about aviation ever since I can remember and about FFPs ever since I started to think – yes, I am not one of these young bloggers, who were even not yet among us on 01 May 1981, when an idea of American Airlines was

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in CEO Blog

09 May 2022

My personal take was that the travel industry would use the downtime of Covid to reinvest in reconsidering certain CRM practices as this would have a long term impact on their business. A reality check shows, however, that my assumption was wrong.

Written by Ravindra Bhagwanani on . Posted in CEO Blog

26 February 2022

Usually, businesses are well advised to stay out of politics. But as things can’t be called usual anymore right now, the picture might be different this time. So, what to do with the members based in Russia we all have in our loyalty programs?