Delta turns FFP on its head T Delta has revolutionised the concept of frequent flyer programmes by announcing that, from January 2015, travellers will earn frequent flyer points based on the amount of money they spend with the airline rather than the number of miles they have travelled. This move is to recognise and reward higher paying customers. Bargain hunters flying on cheap flights will earn fewer points. The traveller’s status on the airline will also play a role in the accrual of points. Fliers with no status will earn five miles per dollar spent while Delta’s top-tier travellers – those who travel 125 000 miles per year – will earn 11 miles per dollar spent. For flights purchased in a currency other than US dollars, the currency will be converted to USD on the Iata five-day currency exchange rate at the time of ticketing. Then the same ‘mileage earn rates’ per USD will be applied. Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vp of SkyMiles, says the new model for earning miles will better recognise frequent business travellers as well as those less frequent leisure customers who purchase premium fares. He adds that the move is consistent with a trend in the travel industry of rewarding customer behaviour based on price. “The travel industry, including nearly all hotel and credit card programmes, has already moved to a spend-based model. Delta will become the first US global carrier to make this transition to better reward our most loyal customers.”
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 06:04:38 +0000