What frequent flyer benefits would you like airlines to adopt?

[Mattg]

There's been a fair bit of discussion about airlines reducing benefits for their top-tier frequent flyers lately. So, I was wondering - what new benefits would you like to see added to your frequent flyer program of choice?

There are a few status benefits I've come across in frequent flyer programs from around the world that I think are great ideas. A couple of these include:

• Airberlin offers top-tier Topbonus members a guaranteed "shadow" in economy, provided the flight is not completely full.
• American Airlines offers 4 System-Wide Upgrades (SWUs) each year to its top-status members. I think it's especially great that these can be used for long-haul flights (e.g. SYD-LAX) and even on multiple connections within one trip. I realise that Virgin currently offers 4 Platinum upgrades per year, but these are only available when buying a Flexi ticket on a short-haul flight.
• Virgin Australia appears to offer complimentary use of shared city workspaces once per month to Gold and Platinum members. If I was eligible, this is something I would use!

What other benefits would you like to see adopted by more airlines? Or are there any other creative benefits you would like to see that the airlines are yet to think of? For the purposes of this thread, ideas don't necessarily have to be realistic.

 

[Deleted member]

I don't recall the airline, BUT a few years ago my father (who was living in the U.S.) said that once he clocked up a certain amount of miles in Y he would receive an automatic upgrade there after (to F/J) . the only catch was that he needed to keep the mileage up. seemed ideal to me

 

[njba]

(Counting down until someone chimes in with "the advertised benefits, consistently delivered" line).

I'd like the idea of giving premium FFers travelling in Y access to J wine. A little better wine makes Y much more bearable. QF is rumoured to do this occasionally, but in their TM 'unwritten, if maybe we feel like it' approach.

 

[JessicaTam]

(Counting down until someone chimes in with "the advertised benefits, consistently delivered" line).

I'd like the idea of giving premium FFers travelling in Y access to J wine. A little better wine makes Y much more bearable. QF is rumoured to do this occasionally, but in their TM 'unwritten, if maybe we feel like it' approach.

Not just a rumour, I was the beneficiary of this today.

I know it is on the way out with VA, and never had the status to take advantage of it myself, but "fly forward" seemed a great benny.

 

[dajop]

Topical .... ability to through check bags to different carriers on separate itineraries

 

[downgraded]

Guaranteed shadow seats with the ever narrower long haul y experience.

 

[travs]

A few:
* X number of airport rides for high status
* X number of moving to earlier flight based on availability on same day, upon checkin (this has happened to me before, but I'd love to see a formal benefit)
* AA SWUs would be great to see on another airline. This keeps my wife flying AA for sure.

Not a FF benefit per se, but I'd love to see treadmills/fitness equipment in lounges. It would really help long layovers.

 

[Solid]

Before they axed their FF program I always liked Rex's - fly 10? sectors and you get one free sector on any route of your choosing which you could redeem in someone else's name.

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

Not a FF benefit per se, but I'd love to see treadmills/fitness equipment in lounges. It would really help long layovers.

Only if they had guaranteed showers prior to boarding.


I'd like to see Qantas adopt priority boarding on domestic flights.

A return of the JASA's and FASA's (I know, tell him he's dreamin').

 

[straitman]

Lifetime status for a few others than Qantas. Also LT Platinum at Qantas.

 

[Borisdog]

Removal of the absolutely obscene charges for award redemptions if platinum equivalent or above. It really is galling.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

(Counting down until someone chimes in with "the advertised benefits, consistently delivered" line).

Maybe said in jest, but let's face it consistency is the one benefit most fail at yet should be the easiest to provide. I also think that's not just fair, but imperative. Fast food chains are the pinnacle of promising something (via glossy photos) that you're highly unlikely to get and airlines seem to wish they could be fast food venues!

 

[Milefest]

* X number of airport rides for high status

I vaguely remember VA sending me a survey asking whether I'd be interested in receiving this as a benefit sometime last year.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I vaguely remember VA sending me a survey asking whether I'd be interested in receiving this as a benefit sometime last year.

I vaguely remember VA ripping up all evidence of such a survey and going with the "scrap all benefits" approach!

Didn't I read their last spiel blamed customer feedback for the changes?

 

[JohnK]

New frequent flyer benefits? How about restoring some of the ones they have taken away?

- upgrade credits (not a fixed number but tied into loyalty bonus)
- don't reset loyalty bonus
- ability to preallocate all seats including exit rows
- anytime lounge access

That pretty much does it for me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

- anytime lounge access

You already have that...with VA anyway.

 

[Milefest]

You already have that...with VA anyway.

I think he means lounge access when you don't have a flight scheduled.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think he means lounge access when you don't have a flight scheduled.

Yes. That's what I meant as well!

 

[medhead]

Maybe said in jest, but let's face it consistency is the one benefit most fail at yet should be the easiest to provide. I also think that's not just fair, but imperative. Fast food chains are the pinnacle of promising something (via glossy photos) that you're highly unlikely to get and airlines seem to wish they could be fast food venues!

Yeah, but fast food is consistent (ly bad). Not sure airlines could do that bit of fast food.

 

[JohnK]

I think he means lounge access when you don't have a flight scheduled.

I should have clarified "International anytime lounge access".