Key Points
Which airline will now deserve our loyalty?.
. Millions of Indians have taken to the skies after successive earlier governments liberalized the airline industry in India, but suffer packed aircraft and airport lounges, often-delayed flights, and extra charges for every conceivable servicefrom checking in bags to booking a preferred seat, getting a snack or even talking to a customer service agent..
Airline mileage programmes are designed to be psychologically attractive, even addictive, but as their benefits decrease, so too should passenger loyalty..
Mileage programmes are big business for airlines, which sell miles as a kind of flying currency to credit-card issuers and others such as hotels, to give away in turn to their own customers..
In 2023, the loyalty programme of Delta Airlines, Sky Miles, was the most valuable airline loyalty programme worldwide, placed at $28 billion..
