You may have noticed not much has gone on here on the FFB Blog for the past two weeks or so. We had been busy preparing for and attending the FFP-ARAC conference (Frequent Flyer Program – Ancillary Revenue Airline Conference) hence the lack of posts here or updates on the Frequent Flyer Bonuses Group of websites. Now we are back at it, bonuses are being posted on the websites as of Monday and I am ready to get back to blogging as well.
October 2009 has proven to be a busy month for the frequent flyer industry with loss of multiple FF programs and changes in the face of alliances. This month we have seen one of the worlds largest programs, Northwest’s World Perks completely disappear as it has been fully integrated into Delta’s SkyMiles program. In Europe, we lost two frequent flyer programs with Brussels Airlines Privilege program closing down and the airline joining parent company Lufthansa’s Miles and More program. Finally TUIFly’s Bluemiles program vanished on Oct 24 to become part of Air Berlin’s Top Bonus program.
On the alliance front, the big news is Continental officially joining the Star Alliance. Most major airlines in the Star Alliance (United, Air Canada, Lufthansa as examples) have already or will be in the next week or so launching codeshares with Continental. As well all the frequent flyer programs have been connected so that members can earn and burn on Continental in their favorite program and vice versa for OnePass members.
Brussels Airlines has also announced that they should officially join the Star Alliance on Nov 9 with the same features outlined for Continental.
The only thing left to be announced this year on the Frequent Flyer program front is the launching of WestJet’s reward program and I was assured by WestJet at the FFP-ARAC conference that it will happen before the end of 2009.
With that being said, I am happy to be back at the business of posting bonus offers and FFP news and hope that our readers are too.
