This document provides examples of airlines creating social loyalty programs to engage customers and increase repeat business. It describes several case studies of airlines partnering with social media platforms like Foursquare, Facebook, and gaming apps to reward customers for social check-ins and interactions. These programs allow customers to earn loyalty points, upgrade benefits like lounge access, and enter contests by sharing their travels on social media. The goal is to strengthen customer loyalty and engagement through innovative social media initiatives.

1. Great examples of airlines creating social loyalty initiatives for building their brands and driving customer engagement and repeat business. Featuring Airline Loyalty World leaders in helping airports go social http://www.SimpliFlying.com

2. Case-study 1 bmibaby & Gowalla

3. bmibaby and Gowalla create unique loyalty program bmibaby customers will have the chance to be rewarded for their loyalty each time they fly with the low cost airline. Customers will be encouraged to log their visits on Gowalla before and after all flights with bmibaby. Once a check-in is logged at one of bmibaby’s check in desks, the customer will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of flights on the bmibaby network.

4. Check-in to win! Winners will be announced on a monthly basis, with the prize changing at regular intervals. In the future bmibaby is looking to incorporate a pin reward for the most loyal fliers whereby bronze, silver and gold pins will be rewarded to passengers who check in frequently. Each pin will unlock a new reward! Goals driven Loyalty

5. Case-study 2 Virgin Atlantic: Social Gaming

6. Innovative reward systems being planned! Virgin Atlantic recently announced plans to re-launch its social travel community site,Vtravelled, with a strategy focused on rewarding their frequent flyers using gaming mechanics. They will partner with social gaming experts Lithium to engage with their 1.8 million Flying Club members. The airline will introduce the ability to earn real currency in the form of miles in addition to the more usual virtual rewards.

7. First step: In-flight entertainment overhauled as social network! As a first step, there’s a new system in their new A330s integrated with the aircraft’s in-flight entertainment units. It works like a travel social network – you can read tips about destinations, write messages to others using the network, search for reviews and rate content from other passengers! How cool is that? Goals driven Loyalty Engagement

8. Case-study 3 Air New Zealand: Foursquare Mayors

9. Foursquare could get you into Air New Zealand's upper class lounges! The “mayors” of select airports and terminals served by Air New Zealand receive free admission to the Koru Lounge just by showing their mayor status and boarding pass. Pro Tip: Koru Lounges offer amenities like bar service, light refreshments, televisions, magazines and showers.

10. Rewarding the most loyal customers! If they’re already a Koru Lounge member, Air New Zealand will award them 100 Airpoints Dollars instead (up to a maximum of $300 per month). Mayors of Koru Lounges are eligible for 100 Airpoints Dollars as well. Goals driven Loyalty Engagement

11. Case-study 4 Virgin America & TopGuest

12. FrequentFlyer points in exchange for check-ins! Virgin America guests can earn an additional 25 Elevate points per check-in via TopGuestto Facebook Places or Foursquare — at the airline’s airport terminals or baggage claims — for a total potential of 50 extra points per flight. Goals driven Loyalty Pro-tip: Topguest allows users to check in to places via their favorite third-party location service, and connect their hospitality rewards accounts to then tie check-ins to points and loyalty programs.

13. Case-study 5 JetBlue: Go Places

14. JetBlue takes you places! Announce to your friends on Facebook that you’re at a JetBlue terminal and earn loyalty points as well as other rewards. Goals driven Engagement Loyalty

15. Case-study 6 All Nippon Airways & Socialrewards

16. Goodies given to “socially active” members To celebrate the launch of ANA’s new route from Tokyo to Manila, ANA partnered with Social Rewards to give away goodies. A free round trip ticket from the US to Manila (via Tokyo), and $5 gift cards from Jolibee Fast Food Restaurant Chain were given away to the first 500 users who registered and re-tweeted with the ANA Social Rewards program. Goals Driven Engagement Loyalty

17. Case-study 7 British Airways & American Airlines: Miles Millionaire

18. Joint loyalty contest to get more members! Targets existing American Airlines AAdvantage and British Airways Executive Club members, as well as prospective members. Loyalty members who register for the promotion will earn 20,000 AAdvantage or British Airways Executive Club bonus miles for every eligible trip booked in full-fare economy class or above.

19. So you think you can be a miles millionaire? Once travel is completed, customers will receive a contest entry email where they can submit an essay answering the question, “If you were cured of the 'Wanderlust' with 1 million miles, where would you go and what would you do there?” Entries are then voted for. Goals Driven Engagement Loyalty

20. Case-study 8 Lufthansa: Miles & More iPhone app

21. iPhone app helps you ask other members for advice and recommendations You’ll know if other Miles and More members are online so that you can get help or advice. You can also: Arrange to meet if a member is nearby Share a taxi Get location-based offers Goals Driven Engagement Loyalty

22. Where are the rest? So we said Top 10, right? We still mean it – but we’d like you to help! Think there’s a great case-study that should be featured here? Tell us. You can email us or tweet us!

23. For more case studies, visit SimpliFlying.com World leaders in helping airports go social http://www.SimpliFlying.com

24. Survey on Social Loyalty SimpliFlying is supporting aviation research being done at Cranfield University in the area of social loyalty. If you travel more than twice a year, we’d appreciate if you’d take 5 mins to fill up this survey: http://svy.mk/kAoQY7

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