Press Releases

New York – Los Angeles is the Top Market for Frequent Flier Reward Travel in the United States
IdeaWorks releases report listing the top 15 market choices for standard frequent flier rewards on the mainland routes of U.S. airlines.

Stormy Weather: Frequent Flier Executives Are Concerned About Reward Availability and Other Consumer Issues
In a recent survey of frequent flier program management, 66% recognize seat availability is “too limited” at the lowest reward level.

Allegiant Air Declares its Ancillary Revenue Manifesto
Allegiant Air’s recent stock prospectus reveals it is changing the business model for US low cost carriers.

Europe’s Top 4 Low Cost Carriers Generated 470 Million Euros (US$593 Million) From Non-Ticket Sources in 2005
But U.S. frequent flier programs produced revenues estimated at 2.5 billion Euros
(more than US$3 billion) and better per passenger results.

Eight Low Cost Airlines Launch New Frequent Flier Programs All Over the Globe
Free travel benefits are now offered by eight new entrant airlines: Eos Airlines, Germanwings, go!, Kingfisher Airlines, MAXjet Airways, Spirit Airlines, Virgin Blue Airlines, and Virgin Express.

Frequent Fliers Reach New Heights with More Than 15 Million Reward Trips During 2005
Storm clouds may have cleared a little with reward redemptions becoming more prevalent, but liability for unused miles also increases a record $3.8 billion.

The Value of a Frequent Flier Mile Jumps in 2005 But Reward Availability Remains a Consumer Complaint
By some measures, the value of a frequent flier mile seems to be increasing, and yet other measures suggest a troubled mileage marketplace. United Airlines introduces a new loyalty currency that bypasses the need to rely upon traditional reward availability.

IdeaWorks Participates in Global Conference for Low Cost Airlines and Adds to Client Base
IdeaWorks president Jay Sorensen will participate as a speaker at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress Americas 2006 to be held June 26-28 in Miami, Florida.

IdeaWorks Issues Report on Innovative Reward Alternatives for the World’s Largest Airlines
Airline frequent flier programs begin to open their wallets and spend cash on new alternative reward choices that go beyond air travel.

IdeaWorks Issues Report on Frequent Guest Partnerships for the Top 15 US-Based Hotel Brands

InterContinental Hotel Group’s Priority Club program eclipses Delta, Lufthansa and United with its network of 190 partner relationships.

By JAY SORENSEN

October 24, 2005

October 24, 2005, Shorewood, Wisconsin, USA. IdeaWorks recently completed analysis on the frequent guest programs offered by the top 15 US-based hotel brands. Frequent guest programs have been steadily building their partner portfolios to become more attractive to consumers and to broaden the reach of their brands.

The lodging business has been compelled by the financial troubles and uncertainty of the airline industry to decrease its reliance on frequent flier relationships with major airlines. To accomplish this, the frequent guest programs are becoming more like their airline counterparts by adding numerous points-earning opportunities and becoming stronger through a wide array of reward choices. The Industry Analysis describes activities in the following partner categories: air travel, car rental, other travel, financial services, communications, retail, and entertainment. Here is a sampling of the observations:

• Only 30% of partner reward opportunities involve air travel – – with 70% of reward choices provided by other partners such as retailers, restaurant chains, cruise lines and theme parks.
• InterContinental Priority Club and Choice Privileges lead the pack by offering more than 100 reward partner choices.
• Over 80% of points-earning opportunities involve retail partners.
• Delta Air Lines leads all carriers with the most numerous hotel partnerships for travel rewards or earning miles.

“The IdeaWorks Report on Partnerships for the Top 15 U.S. Frequent Guest Programs” was released today as a 15-page Industry Analysis. The full Industry Analysis is available at the IdeaWorks web site: https://ideaworkscompany.com/news-research.

About IdeaWorks: IdeaWorks was founded in 1996 as a consulting organization building brands through innovation in product, partnership and marketing, and building profits through financial improvement and restructuring. Its international client list includes the hotel, airline, marine, railroad, consumer products and health care sectors. IdeaWorks specializes in brand development, profit improvement, competitive analysis, creating partner-marketing strategies, cost reduction programs and business restructuring. IdeaWorks brings value as a consultant by researching the expectations of the customer, learning from the wisdom of the client organization and applying innovative ideas to create solutions for clients and consumers. Learn more by visiting: IdeaWorksCompany.com