Travel Loyalty News

Like other recent research, these findings suggest that it takes a lot to set brands apart for service-concerned business travelers. Cultivating a strong identity with stylized lounges and brand-specific amenities may be the way to go.

The agreement means sites and apps such as AwardWallet, TripItPro, Traxo, UsingMiles, and Superfly can easily access AAdvantage information for their members, without jumping through hoops and forging workarounds, if they choose to do so.

Anyone who boards a commercial airline sees that there are privileged and not-so privileged passengers in the eyes of the airline. United Mileage Plus reinforces and widens the great divide by providing more bang per mile for elite flyers on lucrative intercontinental routes.

Travelers are becoming savvier with collecting and redeeming loyalty points as it becomes easier to do so with tie-ins across travel providers. There's no reason Rocketmiles' U.S. success won't also translate into international bookings.

Loyalty points are increasingly becoming a new and broader currency with businesses rewarding them to employees, and even some travel startups awarding consumers airline points for hotel stays.

Loyalty pays, as Kimpton has shown. But so does customer service that goes beyond the basics.

As Delta and other airlines emphasize the importance of their mega-elite customers, they have made the monetary calculations and are neglecting the needs of unmanaged business travelers. This may come back to bite Delta as its rivalry heats up with United and the new American.

Qantas frequent flyer program is one of the biggest money earners for the airlines, so even if it went through a lot of effort to create this ad, it may reap enough benefits if it gets the message across.

United and Delta are catering to their respective elite frequent flyers, but the airlines are also ensuring that you have to spend certain minimums in order to get qualify.

Kelly's approach both explains why getting miles via flying is one of the least effective ways to build loyalty, as well as why the business of points has become a big enough business that airlines are spinning them off as independent companies.