When United and Continental merged, then-head of United’s Mileage Plus loyalty program Graham Atkinson was forced out. He landed at Walgreen’s, and everyone has been expecting the rollout of a loyalty program for the drugstore chain. Now that’s exactly what’s happening.
There will be points-earning opportunities for purchases, prescriptions, getting shots, and “participating in a walking program.”
The more points you earn, the more existing points will be worth.
Their goal is “tens of millions of sign-ups before the end of the year.”
The program launches in September and there’s no word yet on whether points redemption availability will entail Starnet blocking when each quarter’s demand exceeds budget…
I’m in
Walgreen’s is higher on prices than the big box stores on average in my experience but I would go full in if I could use those “points” for airline miles. Same wish for the Mycokerewards program. You’d think Coke and Delta could figure this out in ATL. I think Walgreen’s is HQ in Chicago maybe they could hook up with United. I know I’m dreaming.
Walgreens bought Duane Reed about 2 years ago. DR has had a loyalty program for years (Flex Rewards) and about a month or so ago I received an email from them stating they were starting up a new program in september. So I assume the new program will be the same in all Walgreens and affiliated stores.
The connection between Walgreens loyalty program and airline frequent flyer programs is actually a bit funny, because the “players” in both systems attract the same personality types. Walgreens has had a rather simplistic loyalty-ype program called Register Rewards that can sometimes be exploited by gamers to get free products and free additional shopping money. If you go to slickdeals, you’ll see a few people have even gone into business reselling their free Walgreens merchandise.
It will be interesting to see what sort of spin the former UA Mileage Plus exec puts on their program. The loyalty programs of competing Rite Aid and CVS are fairly sophisticated.
That said, I’ve always thought the folks who spent a lot of time “exploiting” these shopping deals were wasting their time. When mileage junkies score, they get things like free tickets to Europe. Shopping junkies get free toothpaste. That said, for many, it is definitely worth reading the weekly “matchups” for the stores you regularly shop in (including Walgreens) to see what merchandise you can get for little or no money.
I’m going for 1K. I want to be upgraded to the 1st class check-out counter on a regular basis.
Yeah. I would really like an elite line at my local Walgreens. Maybe preferred seating at the pharmacy waiting area 🙂
I like the elite Rx line idea, our Walgreen’s is incredibly slow. I wish CVS would hook there reward program to some kind of miles/points exchange. That would be nice.
Walgreen shoppers will earn points for buying certain items, filling prescriptions, getting shots and even participating in a walking program.
Many readers of your blog just might start a walking program to get points!!!!
This is probably a response to Target’s “get 5% back after 4 prescriptions” program that started a few months ago.
Does anyone know of a card that gives bonus points for pharmacy purchases? Other than the Staples/Ink route.