Frequent Flyer - Maximize Your Benefits!
Who would have thought that the primitive frequent flyer program that had its beginnings in the early 1980's would have developed into the phenomenal success that it has. Originally, the main aim of offering frequent flyer points was to reward customer loyalty for choosing a particular airline. This basic tenet has not changed, rewarding customer loyalty is what the system has always been about. How it worked historically, is that airline customers who had enrolled in these FFP's would accrue points which corresponded to the actual distance which was flown on that airline. Eventually these accrued points or miles were redeemed for free air travel, but nowadays they are able to be used for many other goods and services as well. It is this growth and expansion of the various frequent flyer programs that has made it so incredibly successful. Frequent flyer points are still primarily obtained by flying with an associated airline, however many include points which are obtained by other means. Hire car companies were quick to realise that they would benefit greatly by becoming associated with the frequent flyer system. Hotel accommodation was another, and now we have credit cards that offer points for charges made to the card, as well as participating restaurants, department stores, etc. If you are a frequent flyer then it makes sense to belong to one of the many FFP's that are on offer. It is worth spending some time investigating what each have to offer as they can vary greatly on the benefits they offer, as well as how they accrue the points. One thing to be aware of is that some frequent flyer points can expire after a fixed time, or even if the account has not been used for an extended period. Frequent flyer privileges are increased with the more times that you fly. Often there will be different levels of membership with each having particular privileges. The higher the membership level, the greater the benefit. Some of the more common benefits of becoming a frequent flyer are: 1. Being able to access the first or business class lounges while travelling on an economy ticket 2. Taking advantage of double or triple mileage accumulation 3. Being able to reserve specific seats 4. Discounted and sometimes free upgrades to a higher travel class 5. Priority in standby situations 6. Priority check-ins There are many ways to help accumulate the frequent flyer points without actually flying. When you consider that 25,000 points are required for a domestic North American flight, it can almost seem a daunting task if you are going to rely on flight travel alone to accumulate these points. Many people earn enough frequent flyer credits to take one free flight per year, and they don't fly one mile to get them. Some of the more common ways to help boost your frequent flyer miles are: 1. By credit card purchases - most airlines are now offering their own branded credit cards 2. Shopping - many stores and chains are now offering frequent flyer mileage points for a set amount of dollars spent 3. Long-distance telephone services are allied with specific frequent flyer programs 4. Many restaurants are now offering frequent flyer points 5. Florists and other specialty stores. Happy flying!
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