The Skinny On Frequent Flyer Programs – Part 1
Are you a frequent flyer? Here are some tips on frequent flyer programs
If you’re a traveler, then you probably belong to one or more frequent flyer programs. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, having that little card in your wallet guarantees you a range of benefits. Frequent flyer programs are loyalty programs which airlines use to reward you for traveling with them often. For them, it’s a customer retention strategy. For you, it’s the passport to lower fares and other benefits.
History Of Frequent Flyer Programs
Frequent flyer programs in the US have been around for almost 30 years, with the first one started by American Airlines in 1981. The AAdvantage program was soon copied by airlines across the country, looking for ways to keep their customers flying with them. It was simple – you earned a mile for every mile traveled and when you had enough you could use these for free tickets or rebates.
To sweeten the deal, airlines hooked up with other companies in the travel industry such as car rental firms and hotels, so that travelers could get and redeem miles from more places. The concept has spread across the industry, with many travel industry professionals offering programs for staying at the same hotel, renting cars from the same hotel or even booking offsite airport parking with the same company.
Partner Programs
But that’s not all – now there are many other places where you can get miles. These include your local grocery store, your phone company and your credit card company. With all of those possibilities, it’s even more important to choose a frequent flyer program that offers the most benefit for you. If you travel a lot, then consider which flights are eligible for the program. You need a program that works with the airlines you use most often to get the most benefit from the program.
Getting The Best From FFPs
Don’t let the name worry you – even those who travel infrequently can benefit from these programs. But if you only take a couple of trips a year, you need to find a program that allows you to rack up those miles from non-flight activities. Check out frequent flyer programs to see what rewards they offer with which partners – if these include places where you shop, then that’s a sign that that program might be a good fit. These partners will also come in handy when redeeming miles – it could come in handy for buying gifts, for example. Partners are also an issue with international travel so that you can accrue miles for every leg of your trip.
Read part two in our next post on Friday and feel free to share your frequent flyer tips and resources in the comments section.
(Photo: kondition)
Tags: business travel, frequent flyer programs, miles, travel, Travel Tips
December 26th, 2008 at 4:56 am
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