Travelers around the world impacted by COVID-19 can buy a future travel credit that increases in value from participating airline and cruise partners, powered by global ancillary revenue leader.
MONTREAL – Plusgrade announced a new initiative to support its airline and cruise partners, as well as travelers around the world who have been affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Plusgrade is now offering the following solution to both existing and new partners to accelerate recovery timelines, offset liquidity pressures, fast-track revenue rebound, and allow people to continue to believe in, dream about, and support future travel. The program has no cost for participating organizations and is being offered as Plusgrade’s contribution to help the travel industry rebound faster.
- The Travel Again program, allows travelers, either individuals or corporations, to purchase a travel certificate today that grows in value over time.
- To further accelerate recovery, and empower early travel adopters who will be among the first to travel once governing bodies deem non-essential travel safe, Plusgrade is encouraging participating airlines and cruise lines to weight the significance of earlier travel. The suggested configuration is to make the certificate worth its highest value shortly after purchase, and then reach a lower level of increase as time goes on. For example, a traveler purchases a $500 certificate today and can redeem it for $1,000 of future travel later this year, or purchases a $500 certificate today and redeems it for $750 next year. Thus, the Travel Again program rewards those who lead the way and begin the recovery.
Interested airlines or cruise lines are invited to contact Plusgrade to enable the platform, which provides access to a custom-branded web portal that allows travelers to purchase a travel certificate. The goal of the #travelagain initiative is to give back to these travelers who purchase today by means of adding monetary value, decided by each carrier, to their
certificate, supporting their commitment to travel again.
"As many experts and analysts are projecting that industry recovery may take years, we wanted to help compress the timeline and accelerate the road to recovery,” said Ken Harris, Founder and CEO of Plusgrade. "Our goal is simple: move rapidly to provide valuable tools to accelerate our partners’ recovery, counter the cash impacts they are experiencing, and give the community of global travelers something to remind them we are all connected and inspire them to travel again – sooner.”
LATAM Airlines will be the first to launch the program to their passengers. A leading cruise brand has also committed to launching the Travel Again program to their guests. “In a world where people dream of traveling by air again as soon as possible, the Plusgrade Travel Again program helps both airlines and passengers by creating a genuine win-win scenario,” stated Dr. Joe Leader, CEO, Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). “The program helps our airlines worldwide receive revenue today. It helps airline passengers that see their travel certificate investment grow quickly.”
In addition to Travel Again, Plusgrade has continued to play a major role in supporting its airline and cruise partner base through these unparalleled times. Plusgrade’s Premium Upgrade and Neighbour Free Seat solutions, which have generated over $5 billion in ancillary revenue for their partners, are key components of many airline and cruise partners recovery plans.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
