Loyalty Schemes for Travellers

What Are Customer Loyalty Schemes for Travellers Worth?

Customer loyalty has always been a powerful, sometimes elusive objective for businesses. Now more than ever, it seems.

“Customer loyalty programmes have proliferated and become more complex in recent decades,” according to Deloitte.

However the wealth of brands and travel customer loyalty programmes make it difficult to create differentiated experiences and non-traditional competitors continue to gain share.

The Covid-19 crisis put confidence to the test, driving different consumer behaviours and expectations, the professional services company says.

The benefits of customer loyalty extend beyond mere ad hoc sales. Schemes can contribute towards the overall success of a travel business as well as a steady income stream.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Hyatt Hotels World of Hyatt and car rental National’s Emerald Club were among Forbes Advisor’s top travel loyalty picks for 2024 – though Forbes stressed there are dozens of metrics that might be used here.

Benefits of loyalty schemes include:

• Revenue. Loyal customers often spend more and make repeat bookings.
• Keeping customers on board. Loyalty schemes encourage customers to stick with a brand or travel provider, ensuring a stable customer base
• Frequency. Loyal customers may book flights, hotels, car rentals and other services more often.
• From the horse’s mouth. Satisfied customers are better advocates for a travel provider, providing a cost-effective form of marketing.
• Reputation. This can lead to sustainable profitability and resilience through times of change and upheavals – as is currently true in the travel industry.

Journey Mentor’s LoyaltyMentor rewards passengers for the whole range of services they purchase through its customer and agent e-commerce portals – from flights to hotels and rentals – all in one scheme.