There are two challenges credit card companies face in marketing to consumers: Getting potential customers to apply for the card and getting cardmembers to use the card.
I already knew that the new Bilt Mastercard had a unique approach to the first challenge. Receiving my Bilt card I now see they have an interesting approach to the second as well.
During the pandemic Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program broadened out to become a coalition loyalty program called Virgin Red. That means more points-earning options and more points-redemption options, most of which haven’t been super appealing (although some people do like using their points for sausage rolls).
Now Virgin Red itself has officially launched in the U.S. and its app is now available.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Several fights broke out as passengers deplaned a Frontier Airlines aircraft in Minneapolis just before midnight on Friday and headed to baggage claim. Despite the entire incident being caught on video, and shared to social media, no one has been arrested for the Terminal 2 Tussle.
Passengers on a Uganda Airlines flight from Entebbe to Dubai have been arrested for turning the trip into a bazaar on Friday, charged with ‘common nuisance.’ Two individuals, who normally hawk cell phone accessories, brought grasshoppers on board to sell to other passengers to eat (“Nsenene”). They were up in the aisles of the Airbus A330, and apparently found some willing buyers.
The grasshoppers were allowed onto the aircraft because they were fried. However the airline has said if the two passengers Mubiru Paul and Kiggundu Habib do it again they’ll be banned from the state-owned carrier. And the airline itself has now gotten the idea to offer the grasshoppers as part of inflight meals themselves. Competition works.
A passenger on board a Spirit Airlines flight departing South Florida on Saturday evening seemed to have more than one too many to drink prior to departure, according to others on the aircraft. She attacked two members of the cabin crew and then when she was arrested on arrival in Nashville yelled at police officers to shoot her.
A Florida-based attorney flying American Airlines says her two year old was watching Bubble Guppies quietly, but without headphones. The aircraft was taxiing out, turned around and her family was kicked off the aircraft. She says she was told several times she ‘was in first class’ and felt, as a black woman, that she was being told she didn’t belong.
JetBlue has a Cyber Monday deal of $50 off each one way of $100 or more (or $100 off a $200+ roundtrip).
While this ostensibly ‘isn’t valid on prior bookings’ as long as your existing trips aren’t in basic economy you don’t face change fees. As a result you can cancel your trip, bank the credits, and use those credits to rebook at the lower price.
Southwest Airlines gate agents put up a sign that read “If you ask a question, you have to sing a song.” So this passenger departing New Orleans did exactly that, roping in employees and drawing in the whole crowd.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
