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Etihad Airways’ innovative loyalty programme has been voted the best in no less than four separate categories at this year’s ‘Freddie’ awards, organised by the respected US-based InsideFlyer magazine to recognise the travel industry’s best frequent flyer programmes.
Etihad Guest picked up ‘Best Website’, ‘Best Member Communication’, ‘Best Bonus Promotion’ and ‘Best Award Redemption’ awards for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The programme also claimed runners up spot in three other categories: Best Award, Best Customer Service and Programme of the Year.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “To match our achievement of last year, when we picked up four Freddies, is a remarkable feat, particularly when you consider that Etihad Guest is still a relative new-comer to the airline loyalty programme industry. These awards are voted for by the people that really count – the world’s most frequent flyers – so we know we must be doing a very good job.”
The Freddie awards ceremony took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with more than 700,000 votes submitted from members of travel loyalty programmes from across the world.
It is the third consecutive year that Etihad has won the best website award. The organisers paid tribute to the website’s massive online awards catalogue, information and functionality as well as the innovative ‘slider’ tool, which allows members to design their own ‘cash plus miles’ awards.
In winning the Best Member Communications category, Etihad Guest was commended for the effort it puts into keeping in touch with its 500,000-plus members. The organisers pointed to the programme’s monthly e-statements and e-newsletters as well as regular communications to highlight special promotional offers.
The award of Best Bonus Promotion followed Etihad’s recent ‘Million Miles’ promotion, which took place between September and December 2008 and gave individual members the chance to win up to 600,000 miles as part of a monthly one million mile give-away, simply for booking their flights online.
Etihad won the Best Award Redemption category for the second consecutive year. The organisers praised Etihad Guest for offering ‘the ultimate in cash and miles flexibility for award redemption’, highlighting the fact that members can start spending their miles with as little as one mile.
Barry Green, head of customer relations management and loyalty at Etihad Airways, added: “To have picked up no less than nine industry awards in three years is a remarkable feat and one which we are immensely proud. In these difficult times, it is more important than ever that airlines recognise and reward their most loyal flyers, something which is at the very heart of our Etihad Guest programme.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
