Archive for February, 2026

The merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is still not finally accepted by the authorities, but Asiana has already announced what would happen in that case to the Asiana Club.

For a period of ten years, you can keep the miles you have accrued in the Asiana Club before the merger and use them from there. This can be an interesting option, as only flight miles are converted from the Asiana Club to Korean Air’s Skypass at a 1:1 ratio. Non-air partner miles, however, will only be exchanged at a 1:0.82 ratio. This was one of the key points raised by the competition authorities, and the airlines hope that by retaining the Asiana miles, they can allay these concerns.

However, if you are an Asiana Club member and plan to use your miles on Star Alliance partners, you shouldn’t wait too long!

In 2014, Etihad bought the ailing Alitalia with the promise of making it “the sexiest airline in Europe” (in the words of then-CEO of Etihad, James Hogan). The rest is well known.

Several management teams thereafter, an out-of-court settlement between the Italian state and Etihad for a compensation payment of 300 million EUR for the mismanagement at that time has now been reached.

What does this historical digression have to do with frequent flyers today? In 2024, Etihad recorded a record profit of 476 million USD – which shows that the margin for the airline is becoming very narrow in view of the amount to be paid. And frequent flyers will certainly have to contribute their part. Miracles from Etihad Guest are unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Sometimes the ideas of loyalty managers take strange turns…

For example, Vueling: One must already be grateful in Europe if a low-cost airline even offers a Frequent Flyer Program – the list of counterexamples is still very long, from easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air to Volotea and Smart Wings – Vueling is now taking an even stranger path in its Vueling Club.

As a basic member, you no longer earn any miles with Vueling flights. Only from the Smart level onwards do you earn 3 miles per EUR, which increases to 5 and then 7 miles at the higher Elite levels.

The elite levels are now reached on a revenue basis, with a minimum annual spend of 200 EUR with Vueling required for the Smart level. If you fly less, the program probably won’t bring you any benefits anyway, so why this complication…?

Furthermore, it seems that as a Vueling Club member, you can still collect miles on all Vueling flights if you book the flights through Iberia. Or Iberia Club members can collect miles on Vueling flights as usual.

Hand on heart, how many Marriott brands can you name off the top of your head? 5? 10? That should be the range for most of us.

However, Marriott has the problem, like many other hotel chains, of having many more brands in their portfolio. 35 in the case of Marriott, to be precise.

To bring those closer to their Marriott Bonvoy members, you will receive 2,500 bonus points and a bonus status night per stay at any hotel brand for stays between February 26 and May 10. You need to register for this promotion by April 26.

This may not be the most generous promotion the world has ever seen, but it might be an incentive to brush up on your general knowledge a bit.

Luxury hotels, however, often have a completely different problem: they are independent or just a group with a few properties, so a customer loyalty program is hardly worthwhile, or it only offers customers limited benefits, as they are not necessarily loyal to a specific hotel.

Journey Rewards has recognised this market gap and is now offering a program platform for such hotels (and luxury rentals). 1,400 accommodations worldwide – with a total of only 5,000 rooms! – are currently available.

The program offers flexible redemption options, including the possibility of point pooling. A status system is also offered, and the highest published level, Legend, is reached with an annual spend of 50,000 USD.