Air Serbia plans to roll out its new frequent flyer program this year, replacing the Etihad Guest loyalty scheme it has used since 2013. The airline aims to develop the program into a standalone profit-generating segment of its business. It will utilise the US-based Loyalty Juggernaut’s GRAVTY module, the world's first cloud-native, patented, enterprise loyalty platform, which will enable real-time, data-driven engagement with consumers. The company is utilised by Emirates, WestJet, Viva, Global Hotel Alliance, Deutsche Telekom and others for their respective programs.
Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News about the planned new loyalty scheme, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “Everything will be managed through the app. We do not plan to introduce a physical card as the program will be fully digital. It will be a dynamic, spend-based rewards system rather than a traditional mileage scheme. In simple terms, the more you spend, the more points you earn. There will be a transparent formula outlining how many points are awarded for every 100 dinars spent. This will not be limited to Air Serbia purchases but will also apply to selected third-party partners such as grocery stores, fuel stations and cinemas. Likewise, points will be redeemable not only with Air Serbia but across the wider partner network, although earning and spending points with the airline will offer the highest multiplier value”.
Commenting on how existing members of the Etihad Guest program will be impacted, Mr Marek explained, “We will introduce tier matching from the current program and are still assessing whether mileage matching will be offered, and for how long”. He added, “We are currently in discussions with banks regarding a co-branded Visa card and whether it will be exclusive to a single bank or available through multiple partners. The design of the loyalty program itself, including its tier structure, has already been finalised and signed off”.
The new program is expected to be launched in late March or early April. The CEO noted that the airline does not want to rush its introduction and is keen to ensure all elements are fully in place before the new frequent flyer scheme goes live. “I have high expectations for the frequent flyer programme. If we get it right, it represents a significant source of value and a major opportunity for the airline”, Mr Marek concluded.
Bravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteYes, congratulations on reaching 2005.
DeleteEven Jat Airways had a loyalty program in the early 2000s. They even had a dedicated portal for it.
Air Serbia has a loyalty program. It just decided to make another one.
DeleteAir Serbia doesn't have a loyalty program. It uses Etihad's which makes zero sense.
DeleteAir Serbia has after 12 years decided to join other airlines in having its own.
This will work. There are a lot of successful models to learn from and a lot of money that can be made from this venture.
DeleteLong overdue. Etihad Guest never really made sense for Air Serbia’s network or passenger base. A locally tailored program should finally unlock some real value.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteUnfortunately the Etihad program only has 4 full included airlines (with which you could earn tier miles) within their program: Etihad, Gulf Air, Saudia and Air Serbia. Well.... not really good if you won't fly to Asia/Africa too often. And that's a problem! Of course: Air Serbia is supported by Etihad.
Delete" and are still assessing whether mileage matching will be offered"
ReplyDeleteThis is really poor form. They absolutely should provide points matching for existing Etihad Guest member from Serbia. But a good warning for people to use their points while they can.
+1
DeleteIt only took them 12 years.
ReplyDeleteHopefully a corporate program is next so that the airline can get a much better share of the high spending company flying that are currently using mostly LHG airlines.
True dat.
DeleteDoubt it, let's first wait and see what this program will be like. Marek isn't really known to deliver on his promises
DeleteLufthansa just informed us that now you can use your miles to reduce your ticket price. This is a great way to keep loyal passengers by offering them lower tickets during the high season.
DeleteOther airlines are miles ahead of JU. I doubt they will be impacted by this development.
Reducing the fare with miles is used by many airlines. If anything, Lufthansa is very late in implementing that.
DeleteLike what European airlines offer price reduction by using miles? AF-KL doesn't have that option nor does LOT or Aegean.
DeleteYou can use that option on a wide range of airlines like British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, Delta, United etc. The world does not revolve around Lufthansa and Air France.
DeleteThe European market though does revolve around LHG and AF/KL.
DeleteComparing JU and LH or KLM-AF is like comparing Serbia to Germany/Nederland/France..... Incomparable, so let be realistic and give credit where credit is due....JU is really trying to do something positive, they are on the right track me think....
Delete@09:45 even Vueling does that
Delete@anon 9.45
DeleteAF-KL has had the "pay with cash + miles" option for almost a decade now.
A spend-based system is fine, but I hope redemption rates won’t quietly become worse than mileage programs.
ReplyDeleteThey usually are for the airlines already transitioned to spend-based systems.
DeleteThis site has extensive discussions that highlight exactly that:
https://www.flyertalk.com/
If points can really be earned at grocery stores and fuel stations, this could be a game changer in Serbia where people fly less frequently.
ReplyDeleteYes, if you pay for that Visa card monthly/yearly maintenance, so you don't get much in the end. lol
DeleteThey're not crazy to lose money by giving away miles.
In many banks there are no fees like that anymore, but regardless. Fee is 400-500 RSD per month. I think the point of the whole system is not to just benefit 500 RSD a month through the loyalty program. Let's be logical here.
DeleteThe real test will be long-haul redemptions. If Toronto and future routes require absurd point amounts people will lose interest fast.
ReplyDeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteWith a 13 year felay...
DeleteYeah, because loyalty programmes are generally profitable. lol
ReplyDeleteYes it is. Without it, most airlines in the US would be unprofitable. Research a bit if you don't know.
DeleteLoyalty programmes are usually an airline's most profitable business.
DeleteSpend based programs always favour business travellers. Curious how leisure and diaspora passengers will be rewarded.
ReplyDeleteThey won't, they will stick to flying with Wizz Air.
DeleteBtw JU cancelled LYS while W6 flew to Grenoble with 239 passengers yesterday.
It's a flight for a tour operator.
DeleteImagine if JU flew to Grenoble. You would have an aneurism. First you would say how it is shameful to fly once per week. Then you would have a meltdown that it is a leisure route.
DeleteWhy didn’t JU opt for a cooperation with tour operators to French Alps? It would have saved the route during winter. LYS is not that far away from ski resorts anyway.
DeleteBesides that, they’re currently promoting Salzburg as a ski destination, so why not do the same with Lyon.
Delete@ Anonymous12:34 and does JU need to fly every single route? Is it not possible for any other airline to fly something other than JU? Give it a break. They fly to over 90 places.
DeleteBecause somebody made a comment about WizzAir: Well, Air Serbia could make more people loving them if even the lowest fare would include at least 10kg of luggage! WizzAir is quite strict with their luggages. Legacy carriers mostly win if they offer free checked-in luggage.
DeleteInteresting that they want this as a profit centre. That suggests Air Serbia is thinking more like a mature airline now.
ReplyDeleteHey let's first wait and see what it will be like before we start singing odes to them.
Delete^ You really need to calm down. Where am I singing odes to them? You seem to be unable o accept any opinion other than negativity and your own of course.
DeletePlease design a better website first!
ReplyDeleteA refreshed website is long overdue.
DeleteIt doesn't sound like a good program. If I'm flying NYC to BEG several times a year how am I getting rewarded?
ReplyDeleteHopefully, they make this worthwhile for frequent fliers.
You will be rewarded with miles for every 100 RSD your ticket cost.
DeleteOk, loyalty program used to be some sort of attraction in the past, but I think Air Serbia is quite late for this..Since Korona time, loyalty programs , at least in Europe, collapsed, companies deleted huge amount of miles during the time almist noone could fly ( that was more than 2 years periiod of time) , and pax lost its interest in even collecting usless miles any more..Also programs itself have tightned too much..Look at Lufthansa miles-and-more, collapsed totaly...The only loyalty programs that are still soo soo attractive are the ones where you can actually reduce price of the ticket with points..Everything else- naah people lost trust after Corona, and don't stick to the same carrier or group just for the loyalty programs, which used to be the case before Korona..
ReplyDeleteSo many bitchy people here today haha.
ReplyDeletegot to love it. on literally EVERY positive news from Air SERBIA :))
Deletequite entertaining to me actually as it represents perfectly our mentality. cmon, some people moaned coz public transport in Belgarde is free :)
I know many people who like frequent flyer programs very much, same I do. The reason is easy: I like to fly an airline which is part of my FFP because I have many advantages like more luggages, louonges and best: much less waiting time at the check-in. I don't mind about the miles I get but about the status. I wished Air Serbia would become a member of one of the 3 big alliances (I pray for that!). And then they would have more passengers too, me included! I like the Air Serbia lounge in Beograd very much, in my opinion one of the better lounges in Europe. The sceme for getting miles depending on the fare price is only good as long as they would have different status points/miles like most airlines. Because somebody mentioned something about WizzAir: I would never ever fly them anymore! After a 2 hours flight my back hurt for more than 2 weeks! The seats there are the most unconfortable in my aviation history!
ReplyDeleteHow tragic, your bourgeoisie back should never have to hurt like that again.
DeleteIf you have to pay extra for all those things other airlines are cheaper than Air Serbia. Very sad! That's why it is right that the only chance is to become a member of any alliance.
DeletePeople who don't fly often don't understand the meaning of a good frequent flyer program. I also prefer flying within an alliance than using another airline. Specially low cost carrier I try to avoid as most as possible. Yes, the lines in front of the check-in counters can be very long of Wizzair and Ryanair and so on.
Delete