Frequent flyer program

The bonus program of airline, the program for often flying passengers, frequent flyer, the mile program - what is it? So are called programs of encouragement of the passengers, directed on increase of loyalty of air passengers to concrete airline or to an alliance of air carriers.

The passenger who has entered the given program, receives a card of the participant with unique number and the personal account which replenishes after each flight made on airline-participant of the program. Usually as registration unit for account replenishment the overland miles named in bonus miles act. The quantity of enlisted bonus miles depends on the tariff, a class of service and a direction (range) of flight.

To become the participant of the bonus program, it is necessary to fill the special form-statement and to transfer it in airline. Besides, it is possible to be registered online on an airline site. As a rule, at registration through a site or at a subscription to airline news it is possible to receive at once into the account so-called salutatory miles.

After registration in the program you receive at once a time (paper) card of the participant which can use before reception of a constant card. The constant (plastic) card is sent to the participant of the program, as a rule, after fulfilment of the first flight and transfer of the first miles.

That flight has been included, number of a card of the participant should be brought in your order in booking system. It is necessary to specify it at booking or ticket registration in agency or in airline cash desks. Besides, card number can be brought, having shown a card at registration on flight at the airport.
If you have forgotten to specify card number at booking miles can be enlisted and backdating (usually within three months after flight), having addressed in representation of airline and having shown listing of the ticket and originals of boarding passes.

Many airlines involve in the mile programs of partners, it is possible to receive for using which services also miles into the account of the participant. Usually such partners are the banks which are letting out special plastic cards, hotel networks, shops, car rental companies.

Having saved up certain quantity of miles on the account, the participant of the program can exchange them for various prizes. As a rule, it is free flights or increase of a class of service (for example, from economy class on a business class). It is possible to spend miles and for payment of luggage above permitted standard, and also to take advantage of services of partners of the program: to pay in miles hotel accommodation, rent of the car and even it is simple the goods.

Often flying passengers can receive side benefits. If the passenger makes many flights in a year or into the account of the passenger within a year the certain quantity of miles arrives, to it status level can be appropriated. The name of statuses can sound differently, depending on the program, but usually statuses share on "silver", "gold" and "platinum". Participants of status level receive side benefits and privileges. Most widespread of them is an access to business salons (special comfortable waiting rooms at the airports), registration on a business class rack even if the passenger travels in economy class, a priority in waiting list acknowledgement, increase in free norm of luggage and charge more quantities of miles for flights.

Besides, in programs usually there are 2 various classes of miles:

Bonus miles.
These are usual miles, which to receive both for flights, and for services of the companies-partners of the program. They can be spent for prizes during the term defined by the program after their charge (for example, 36 months in program Miles and More the airlines entering in Star Alliance).

Status miles.
On the basis of these miles the status of a card of the passenger is defined. Such miles can be received, as a rule, only for air flights. For reception or acknowledgement of the certain status it is necessary to type certain quantity of such miles for a calendar year. Each status mile also is considered and as usual bonus mile. For owners of status cards bonus miles will hold good without restrictions during all period of validity of the status.

Participation in mile programs is free, voluntary and noncommittal the passenger, allowing thus ample opportunities to travel more often, more favourably and with the big comfort.

Fly with pleasure!


Author - is manager travel agency in Russia. Receive the possible information on airlines in Russia.We also give the information on booking of air tickets online, special offers of airlines to Russia, responses about airlines.