5 Best Frequent Flyer Programs 2019
Frequent business travel can be a drag, but a good loyalty program can make the process a little more pleasant. Access to relaxing lounges, free seat upgrades and free flights are three of the key perks you can expect from a good loyalty program.
Your company is likely to have particular guidelines relating to loyalty programs and travel in general. Many firms allow you to choose your preferred airline as long as it is not too much more expensive than the cheapest alternative - a maximum of 10% higher is a general rule of thumb. Find out exact details from your travel manager.
Here we look at five of the best frequent flyer programs that may be of interest to UK business travellers.
Flying Club
This program runs on Virgin Atlantic and Delta and offers exit row seats, premium check-ins and perhaps more importantly, access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow. As a Flying Club member you'll be able to hob-nob with first class passengers and Gold Tier members. Additionally, every time you fly you'll get free seat selection. Other perks include bonus birthday miles and cabin upgrades.
Partner Airlines:
Virgin Atlantic
Delta Air Lines
Flying Blue
Brought to you by Air France and KLM, this program allows you to collect points on their various partner airlines. For every pound you spend you get air miles, which can be used for holidays or cabin upgrades. If you travel regularly to or from Paris or Amsterdam, this program will make a lot of sense. Seat option discounts and airport lounge access complete the picture.
Partner Airlines:
AirFrance
KLM
Aircalin
HOP!
Joon
Tarom
Transavia
Kenya Airlines
Executive Club
13 international airlines, including British Airways and American Airlines run Executive Club. The key currency here is Tier Points, which help you reach higher tiers and more perks, but for things like cabin upgrades and flights, the points are called Avios. Working out how the points are accrued is actually rather complex, which is why there's a special calculator to help out.
British Airways
American Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
LATAM
Malaysia Airlines
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian
S7 Airlines
Sri Lankan Airlines
Aeroflot Bonus
Air France and KLM are also part of this loyalty scheme, along with many other international carriers. If your business trips often involve Chinese or Russian cities, then it's wise to choose Aeroflot Bonus over Flying Blue. Hotel stays and shopping can be paid for with Bonus points. Most enticing of all, perhaps, when you reach the upper tier you'll get vouchers for three class upgrades.
Partner Airlines:
Aeroflot
Aerolíneas Argentinas
AirFrance
AeroMexico
AirEuropa
Alitalia
China Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Czech Airlines
Delta
Garuda Indonesia
KLM
Kenya Airways
Korean Air
MEA
Saudia
Tarom
Vietnam Airlines
XiamenAir
Norwegian Reward
If your travel manager is keen on keeping costs low, you may be familiar with budget long-haul airline, Norwegian. This program is unique on this list because it only has one partner - Norwegian. But the airline works with many other partners such as GetYourGuide and Groupon, on which you can use the carrier's CashPoints. Better still for the frequent traveller, you can use these points on Norwegian Hotels and car rentals in Italy, France and the USA.
Flying perks include faster security; free seat bookings; free baggage (which can be costly if you're not a member) and upgrades to Premium. Every sixth flight gives you a CashPoint boost of +2% on flights and partner purchases, alongside rolling point accrual.
There are no tiers with Norwegian - making it one of the simplest programs out there. You also get a perk on each flight you take - so you won't have to spend thousands on long-haul flights to enjoy benefits.
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