Ready to earn 5x points on your next flight? Spirit Airlines is the latest carrier to use its loyalty program as an enticement to get people thinking about travel again.
But that doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea.
Loyalty
Virgin Australia to ditch twin-aisle fleet, focus on domestic and regional service
As part of its recapitalization plan Virgin Australia intends to retire its long-haul aircraft. The carrier’s five 777s and six A330s will be removed from service as it invests “in the core Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international operation.”
American Airlines adds AAdvantage redemption option for Five Star Service
How can you make the loyalty program more relevant for the travelers slowly returning to the skies over North America? Points and travel are not a compelling as they were last year, but American Airlines is hoping that its AAdvantage members will consider spending some of their account balance to gain a bit of extra comfort and privacy during their travel day through the Five Star Services program.
American, JetBlue team for NYC, Boston feed
American Airlines and JetBlue are to launch a “strategic partnership” in Boston and the New York City area, aligning flights and loyalty program benefits to boost their recovery. It reads well in the press release, but how it evoloves in practice is very much up in the air, with few details available from either side.
American Airlines details fraudulent AAdvantage behaviors
If you’re going to pick a fight with the airlines over “stolen” points make sure you’ve covered your tracks. This appears to be the lesson for one American Airlines AAdvantage member after an effort to recover points from a cancelled trip turned in to an Exposé of fraud.
JetBlue adds Cash & Points redemptions for TrueBlue
JetBlue customers can now choose a new option to pay for flights. The company’s TrueBlue loyalty program introduced a Cash & Points offering today, allowing members to redeem points for a partial value of the fare.
Air Canada launches half-priced Aeroplan rewards in North America
Air Canada is ready to start pulling more passengers out of their homes and back to the skies. The carrier announced a half-price sale for its Aeroplan loyalty program members today to help drive those bookings. The sale is a cap stone to a strong earnings promotion effort the company ran in recent weeks.
United plans $5 billion loan against MileagePlus
United Airlines will secure an additional $5 billion in funding by taking a loan against the MileagePlus loyalty program. The company announced the plans Monday morning as part of an update to its liquidity position. With the loan, and other CARES Act funds, the company anticipates approximately $17 billion in liquidity by September 2020.
LATAM seeks US bankruptcy protection, plans to continue operations
South America’s LATAM Airlines Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the US courts on Tuesday morning, seeking to restructure debt while continuing regular operations. Or, at least, operations as close to regular as possible given the current global aviation environment.
JetBlue offers free TrueBlue Mosaic status, plus a year extension
JetBlue waited longer than most to announce plans for its TrueBlue loyalty program in the wake of the coronavirus groundings. But it appears the carrier used that time wisely. With its announcement today JetBlue draws on similar actions from many other carriers but pulls them together in a package that might deliver outsized value to its members.