Air Serbia is expected to formally launch its new “Elevate” frequent flyer programme at an event in Belgrade on June 16, one day before the carrier marks its 99th anniversary. Air Serbia CEO, Jiri Marek, has confirmed the airline will offer both a tier and points match to existing Etihad Guest members, whose loyalty programme Air Serbia has utilised since 2013. Speaking at the Slovenian Aviation and Travel Summit this week, Mr Marek said, “Passengers will retain the miles they have collected with Etihad and will continue to be able to use them within the Etihad Guest programme. At the same time, we will match the miles earned over the past twelve months, which will be credited as an entry bonus in our programme. We will also offer a tier match, meaning that whatever status level a member holds with Etihad will become their starting tier in our programme”.
As previously reported, the new programme will be a dynamic, spend-based rewards system rather than a traditional mileage scheme. In simple terms, the more one spends, the more points they will earn. There will be a 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.
Banca Intesa, Serbia’s largest bank by total assets, will issue a co-branded VISA card for all users of Air Serbia’s future loyalty programme. This will enable point accrual, which is not exclusively linked to travel, but rather everyday shopping.
A missing piece of the jigsaw for so long and hopefully over time becomes a good source of revenue, I mean look at IAG saying they plan for 1 billion revenue from their Avios scheme, I realise much bigger but shows the money that can be made. I just hope they also have some reciprocal relationships with other airlines as well.
ReplyDelete"we will match the miles earned over the past twelve months"
ReplyDeleteAs I warned from the beginning, there will be no wholesale transfer of Etihad Guest miles to the new FFP, only a goodwill gesture to kick things off. A lot of people here were taking it for granted that their mileage balance will be transferred in full from EY to JU.
Do 'alot' of JU's current passengers have that? And what are they predicting the uptake to be?
DeleteIt will be great it we could get the miles for flights we took recently but didn’t bother to credit them to our Etihad Guest accounts since it takes forever for them to be processed now, at least in my experience.
DeleteEtihad Guest was Air Serbia official loyalty program for many years. It is disrespectful to the customers not to allow transfer of those miles.
DeleteThis is great and unexpected news. JU isn't know as a customer friendly airline
DeleteAbsolutely yes, there should be a way to credit miles for trips recently taken. Their own reps at JFK have been refusing to add EY loyalty numbers to reservations claiming that JU does not use EY anymore. When you have a toddler next to you, you are not in a position to argue this nonsense. But yes, I would like my miles for the many JU miles I've flown recently and never got any credit
DeleteYeah no thanks
ReplyDeleteOne important question: are there gonna be miles for all fares, including Economy light or will stay as like at Etihad?
ReplyDeleteNo, miles for Economy Light won't be counted.
DeleteI don't think there is an airline in Europe that gives miles for the lowest fare bracket.
Delete@16:23 Turkish airlines does.
DeleteAegean Airlines does
DeleteThey said it will be spent based, the more you spend the more you get... + External partners will be part of it
DeleteI understand that as every purchase will be counted if made by BI card.
Literally all airlines give miles for Economy Light. Even Lufthansa does it! Of course, it is less miles than in Economy Standard, but there are still some miles!
DeleteSo it seems that Air Serbia was one of rare airlines that isn't giving miles in Economy. Hope they will change that now
DeleteAir Serbia does give miles in economy. Don't make things up.
DeleteHow do any of you know if they will or will not offer miles in Economy light. An anonymous makes something up and you all go for it.
DeleteThe program will be spend-based, so the fare won't matter at all.
DeleteJU doesn't give miles in Etihad Guest for Economy light.
Deletehey ex yu, help Air Serbia to celebrate anniversary flights properly, like you do, here
ReplyDelete