HTC, congratulate your loyal customers

[Nashorn]

that's what I was thinking, It would give brand new players a chance to take a "special" plane which may take them a bit longer to earn otherwise

[Shifty]

As a long time customer (almost 12 years) I am amply rewarded. I get to play the best flight game out there when ever I want!

Ditto

[SIK1]

Ah, the entitlement generation attempting to make AH no refuge from such mentality. 'I enjoy this game so much that I feel someone owes me.' There's not an airline in business that does't wish the guy that invented the frequent flyer program was never born.

As a long time customer (almost 12 years) I am amply rewarded. I get to play the best flight game out there when ever I want!

Why would any customer who has been loyal as long as some of has even think of looking for a reward? I could see giving something out for a new guy staying for a year. Once they hang for a year, you have them pretty well hooked 

Too true.

[kappa]

Ah, the entitlement generation attempting to make AH no refuge from such mentality. 'I enjoy this game so much that I feel someone owes me.' There's not an airline in business that does't wish the guy that invented the frequent flyer program was never born.

What a love muffin... Entitlement generation? Laughable..

Since when is a business model giving perks (in whatever form) to foster business and help build a lasting customer base entitlement..

Oh, and you care to site a reference for your frequent flyer program? Not that I really care.. Seems simple enough to me if they didn't think it helped their business they wouldn't offer such..

[Triton28]

Pics or your argument is invalid, Arlo.   

[5PointOh]

Ah, the entitlement generation attempting to make AH no refuge from such mentality. 'I enjoy this game so much that I feel someone owes me.' There's not an airline in business that does't wish the guy that invented the frequent flyer program was never born.

As some that is very framilar with loyalty programs, your statement is further from the truth than usual. The programs are designed to offer loyal customers a little something more for continual use of a companies product, in turn it entices a customer to continue to be loyal.

Example: I am a member of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (formally Priorty Club). I have reached Platnium Elite status for the last 6 years, and have close to 500,000 points.  It take 10,000 to 20,000 points per night to stay at one of IHG's hotel, but on average you only accumulate 5,000-7,500 per 5 night stay (and that's with the Elite 50% bonus).  There are other products including gift cards to TVs and Laptop. On average a 1 night stay at a IHG hotel will be close to 120.00, even on the low end if I used all 500,000 points for room stays (500,000pts/10,000=50 stays X 120 per night) IHG only spent 6,000.00 retail dollars to keep me happy. Pretty good deal for the hotel. Figuring you only 1500 points per night, IHG 34,000.00USD on the low end. (Before you make Platnium status the points earning is smaller, maybe 500 points per night.

As for the original post, I'm not sure the loyal guy needs perks but I do like giving the new subscriber 50-100 perks in each category.  Might help with new player retention.

[Arlo]

What a love muffin... Entitlement generation? Laughable..

Since when is a business model giving perks (in whatever form) to foster business and help buil
d a lasting customer base entitlement..

Oh, and you care to site a reference for your frequent flyer program? Not that I really care.. Seems simple enough to me if they didn't think it helped their business they wouldn't offer such..

It's a ten thousand ton gorilla on their back. That is what's said behind corp doors (not expecting you to understand why such isn't  available for citable public consumption or why no airline can now afford to be the first to dump their program. But the programs are diluted regularly. FF miles cost money. Having said that, any company that resorts to buying loyalty is deluding themself. If you are enjoying the game, that is its own reward. If you claim entitlement ('I deserve more for you to retain my loyalty') you  probably are too selfish to care what a briar patch this suggestion truly is.

Wishes are scraping the bottom of the desperation and attention barrels lately.

[kappa]

It's a ten thousand ton gorilla on their back. That is what's said behind corp doors (not expecting you to understand why such isn't  available for citable public consumption or why no airline can now afford to be the first to dump their program. But the programs are diluted regularly. FF miles cost money. Having said that, any company that resorts to buying loyalty is deluding themself. If you are enjoying the game, that is its own reward. If you claim entitlement ('I deserve more for you to retain my loyalty') you  probably are too selfish to care what a briar patch this suggestion truly is.

Wishes are scraping the bottom of the desperation and attention barrels lately.

If it is so bad, why is it offered? What you're saying is all the airlines do it cause they can't afford not to? If they did not offer the incentives their business model would suffer? Gee, that makes perfect sense to your argument..  

[earl1937]

If it is so bad, why is it offered? What you're saying is all the airlines do it cause they can't afford not to? If they did not offer the incentives their business model would suffer? Gee, that makes perfect sense to your argument..  

When you investigate the cost, per seat mile, of most airliners of today, you quickly understand why the airlines offer FF miles. They are making money by doing it! When computing how many seats have to be filled, in a particular aircraft, you quickly see its usually around 65% and anything over that is profit. Then, when you throw in the cargo hauled in the cargo bay, not to mention Postal Service contracts, you quickly see why they can and do ofter FF miles.

[kappa]

When you investigate the cost, per seat mile, of most airliners of today, you quickly understand why the airlines offer FF miles. They are making money by doing it! When computing how many seats have to be filled, in a particular aircraft, you quickly see its usually around 65% and anything over that is profit. Then, when you throw in the cargo hauled in the cargo bay, not to mention Postal Service contracts, you quickly see why they can and do ofter FF miles.

This can't be correct.. The real issue is the Airlines producing a group of selfish entitlement potatos... By doing so they are losing money and they do it cause they can't figure out a better deal.. They must harm their business model b/c there is no other way.. Just ask Arlo.. He has heard the airline executives say so behind closed doors all the while they were cutting their forearms with dull blades beneath their desk..

[Arlo]

If it is so bad, why is it offered? What you're saying is all the airlines do it cause they can't afford not to? If they did not offer the incentives their business model would suffer? Gee, that makes perfect sense to your argument..  

The airline I work for has had their program for quite awhile. Their original intention was to make it a six month promotion. Other airlines created similar programs. None of them want to now reap the bad publicity of being the first to bail. Given other bad corp decisions, there irony in that.

[kappa]

The airline I work for has had their program for quite awhile. Their original intention was to make it a six month promotion. Other airlines created similar programs. None of them want to now reap the bad publicity of being the first to bail. Given other bad corp decisions, there irony in that.

If it is so bad, why is it offered? What you're saying is all the airlines do it cause they can't afford not to? If they did not offer the incentives their business model would suffer? Gee, that makes perfect sense to your argument..  rolleyes

[Aspen]

Loyalty and customer retention is a huge deal for any business.  The difference between FF miles and perks is that when a customer cashes in some FF miles the airline has the expense of flying them somewhere.  If a player cashed in bonus perks, it costs HTC nothing aside from the original setting up of the code for awarding them.

[Arlo]

If it is so bad, why is it offered? What you're saying is all the airlines do it cause they can't afford not to? If they did not offer the incentives their business model would suffer? Gee, that makes perfect sense to your argument..  rolleyes

I've offered you an inside perspective three times. If you can't understand at this point,  it's neither my responsibilty nor concern. You have my opinion of the idea you feel bears merit. The only thing giving into entitlement 'gimme freebies to keep me' types will do is create a segment of the community that expect free perks instead ofearned ones. A rather odd and stupid wish in light of all the perk farming hissies that went on recently.

[ReVo]

I pay 15 bucks a month and in return I get to crash as many internet airplanes as I want. What more do I need?