Budget airline joins rewards programme
Low cost carrier Ryanair has joined its first rewards programme to offer cash back and product discounts to regular flyers.
The controversial airline, however, will charge passengers £10 a month for membership of Webloyalty’s Shopper Discounts & Rewards programme for regular online shoppers.
Ryanair said the move would not lead to it establishing its own loyalty scheme which would be too expensive to run.
Membership of the Webloyalty scheme will be offered to passengers bookings tickets online, with a 30-day free trial offer followed by the £10 a month charge.
Rewards include an initial £15 cash back voucher on Ryanair flight bookings, a £10 voucher for subsequent bookings and discounts of up to 20% from the scheme’s 700 online retail members, such as Interflora, Expedia and National Express.
Commenting on the Ryanair deal, Martin Child, managing director, Europe of Webloyalty, said: “Our model will help Ryanair to reward its repeat customers whilst providing a revenue stream and repeat business to their web pages with minimal effort required by them to implement the programme.”
Members of the Webloyalty scheme also receive Best Price Guarantee and automatic Extended Warranty protections.
Ryanair has courted controversy through its outspoken chief executive Michael O’Leary and has been accused of hidden charges such as for checking in luggage, and will provide clearer information on its promotions and low price guarantee.
O’Leary’s latest idea is to charge passengers less to “stand” on bar stools with seat belts around their waists. He is reported to have held talks with US manufacturer Boeing about designing an aircraft with standing room.