Travel Loyalty News

If NDC ever comes to be, it will be years away. It is a move by the world's airlines to reduce their distribution costs and get greater control of passengers who don't happen to book through airline websites.

This line rings true: "Airlines do lousy jobs being airlines. Why would you think they are good banks?"

Despite its other problems, the TSA proved that it can handle matters like this recently when it re-invented the no-fly list after years of incompetence by the airlines. It's time the carriers returned the favor and contribute to a better PreCheck program.

Airlines are doing their best to personalize offers to customers, and UsingMiles should consider doing likewise for users in the free results instead of just doing it for premium members. Otherwise, it clutters up UsingMiles for the average user.

The principles can be applied in any industry, but hotels are particularly posed for success with visible employees that can be recruited to emulate and build brand loyalty both in person and online.

Switchfly has stepped into a sweet spot for airlines, hotels, and other travel providers with a mix of customer insights and social media tools that help explain behaviors in ways that will help build loyalty.

MileWise's Combo Fares is a remedy for sometimes-inflexible airline, hotel, and credit card rewards programs.

When airlines wanted to personalize flight offers to frequent flyers, the global distribution systems countered they could handle it for the airlines. Now ASTA, representing travel agents, is wondering whether the whole thing amounts to discrimination.

The free membership for fast-lane access is a nice perk for frequent travelers and smart operational move for Hong Kong to ease passenger bottlenecks as business travel rises this fall.

There are so many loyalty tracking companies in existence that a shakeout is inevitable.