Travel Loyalty News

Etihad's investment amounts to a rescue plan for Air Berlin, and is part of Etihad's plan to foster a multi-carrier frequent flyer program.

The joint venture will have less of an impact on travelers than that of a full merger, but frequent flyers and premier passengers will reap the best benefits between shared lounges and mile points.

Hotels offering late checkouts and airlines like ANZ help business travelers comfortably kill time between checkout and takeoff, a great way to build customer loyalty.

There’s nothing Mad Men about flying today except for loyalty programs’ continued courting of male passengers. Both sexes will take note when a brand adds touches that titillate their distinctive tastes.

This is a big win for Points.com, and gives Rapid Rewards members more flexibility in redeeming and trading their points.

This is a timely launch in Indonesia where an improved economy boosted business travel by 54 percent during the first half of 2012.

Virgin excels at design inside its aircraft and in the airport. Now if it could only design its balance sheets with the same flair.

The site carries a clever value proposition for its intended audience and the prospect of double dipping into loyalty programs, but its biggest obstacle will be clearly outlining its benefits and converting bookers.

Elite-qualifying miles throughout the holiday season might take the bitter taste out of the mouths of loyal AA flyers, but will do little to change the mind of average travelers who have vowed to shun the airline.

Smart airlines look for ancillary services that might add value to the journey -- and make fliers happier -- instead of just gouging for bag fees.