Aer Lingus joins Avios

Avios, which operates the British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus frequent-flyer schemes, is to operate a relaunched Aer Lingus loyalty programme called AerClub from next spring.

Passengers will be able to collect reward points on flights and other travel services including car hire and hotels. Members of Aer Lingus’ existing loyalty programme, Gold Circle, which was launched in 1987, are being invited to switch from this month.

The new scheme will have four tiers of membership instead of three and will offer members the opportunity to earn points based on frequency of travel and spend on Aer Lingus.

Avios is owned by IAG, which acquired Aer Lingus earlier this year.

Elsewhere, American Airlines, the inventor of the frequent-flyer programme in 1981, is changing its scheme from the second half of next year to award miles based on ticket price rather than distance flown, becoming the latest and largest US carrier to make a switch to favour bigger spenders.

United and Delta Air Lines have made similar changes in the past two years, joining Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America in moving to what is known as the revenue model.

American says its AAdvantage programme now has nearly 100 million members. www.aerlingus.com

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