Latest news with #loyaltyprograms
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
JetBlue and United deal lets fliers use miles with either airline
United Airlines and JetBlue Airways unveiled a partnership Thursday that expands flight options for travelers in the Northeast. The new pact, dubbed 'Blue Sky' by the airlines, will link United's MileagePlus and JetBlue's TrueBlue loyalty programs, allowing members of each to earn and redeem points on either carrier's flights, as soon as this fall. And, in 2027, United will return to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport; it stopped flights there in 2015 except for a brief return from 2021 to 2022. The partnership shifts the air travel landscape in the Northeast, particularly in New York. United and JetBlue loyalists will, for the first time, be able to take their loyalty — and hard-earned perks — and fly the other airline. That represents an expansion of travel options for those fliers at the expense of competitors. JetBlue loyalists will gain access to United's broad global network that encompasses nearly six times as many flights as than the New York-based airline. And United frequent fliers get the option of JetBlue's schedule from New York's JFK airport, long a gap on the legacy airline's map and an increasingly important option amid the delays related to air traffic control at United's main New York airport, Newark. The announcement ends months of speculation over whom JetBlue would link up with following the end of its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines in 2023 and its unsuccessful merger with Spirit Airlines in 2024. The airlines' agreement is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to clear those hurdles under the Trump administration. United and JetBlue together operated more than a third of all flights from New York's three main airports — JFK, LaGuardia and Newark — in May, schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. Their closest competitor, Delta Air Lines, operates roughly 30 percent of flights. Tom Fitzgerald, an airline analyst at investment bank TD Cowen, wrote at the end of April amid speculation of a United-JetBlue merger that if United could land a deal it would represent a 'major competitive coup.' 'It would make [United] by far the dominant carrier in NYC, give them a small hub in Boston, and close one of the few gaps in their network (Florida and the Caribbean),' he wrote. The partnership unveiled Thursday is not quite as expansive as the potential merger Fitzgerald envisioned but includes upsides for consumers. United will initially offer seven flights provided by JetBlue at JFK. In return, JetBlue will gain eight flights from United at Newark. Clint Henderson, the travel editor at the Points Guy, said he likes that 'elites will get access to a few perks on both airlines.' He noted that there are a few gaps in the loyalty side of the partnership, including a lack of upgrades or lounge access for either United or JetBlue's most frequent fliers. Ahmed Abdelghany, an associate dean in the business school at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, said in an email that the deal significantly expands JetBlue's reach. 'This dramatically expands JetBlue's global connectivity, allowing customers to travel beyond the carrier's traditionally leisure-focused footprint,' he wrote. JetBlue President Marty St. George told investors in April that the airline wanted a deal that could get its customers to places like 'Omaha or Boise,' neither of which it flies to itself. Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the cheap-flight service Going, called United's new JFK flights the 'juiciest' part of the new partnership but wondered if there is more to come. 'This is really the start,' she said. 'Okay, they've defined their relationship but are they going to get engaged? Are they going to get married? This could lead to bigger things.'
Travel Daily News
3 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Cheval Collection appoints sector expert as CCO
Cheval Collection appoints Nick Pilbeam as Chief Commercial Officer to drive global expansion, loyalty programs, and EMEA growth in serviced apartments. Cheval Collection has appointed Nick Pilbeam as Chief Commercial Officer to its growing team as it continues to expand globally. The company, whose inventory is nearing the 1,000 unit mark, is in discussions over a number of dynamic locations, pursuing growth through management contracts. Pilbeam has more than 20 years' experience in international travel, loyalty, tourism and hotel sectors, joining Cheval Collection from Queensway, where he was Commercial Director of the hotel group. He has also held positions at Avios and British Airways. Mohammed Alawadhi, Managing Director, Cheval Collection said: 'We are privileged to be working with someone of Nick's calibre as we move into our next phase of expansion. Nick's knowledge of both operations and the investor viewpoint gives him a thorough understanding of our sector. 'Nick's experience in loyalty will also prove invaluable as we introduce our Cheval Discovery loyalty programme, part of the Global Hotel Alliance, across our properties this year. The programme will be an important tool to help us recognise our guests, as well as bolstering our marketing reach.' Pilbeam said: 'This is an exciting time to join Cheval Collection and I look forward to working with the team as we drive the business forward. Serviced apartments have moved into the mainstream for guests and investors, who are attracted to their flexibility and operational efficiency. Cheval Collection's 40 plus years as an owner and operator means that it has become a brand they can trust.' The group is continuing to sign deals across EMEA. The opening of the Cheval Maison – Expo City Dubai in March took Cheval Collection to over 950 units, after adding more than 300 since opening its Lexham Gardens by Cheval Maison property in London in 2021. The group is due to make its debut in Saudi Arabia in 2027, with Cheval Ladun Living, located in Riyadh. Future projects also include Cheval Maison – West Regent Glasgow, set to open Q1 2027.
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Stocks in play: Royal Bank of Canada
Said its Avion Rewards has once again been recognized on the global stage at the prestigious International Loyalty Awards, taking home multiple awards earlier this month. The awards recognize the pinnacle of excellence and innovation in loyalty on a global scale. Royal Bank of Canada shares are trading up $0.33 at $178.20.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Nymbus Launches Levels: A Powerful Loyalty & Rewards Framework for Community Banks and Credit Unions
Nymbus Levels empowers financial institutions to drive engagement, build deeper relationships, and align customer behaviors with business goals JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nymbus, a full-stack banking platform for U.S. banks and credit unions, today announced the launch of Nymbus Levels: an enterprise-grade loyalty and rewards framework that empowers financial institutions to elevate their brand through bespoke loyalty experiences and dynamic pricing. Seventy percent of Americans cite loyalty programs as a top reason for staying with a brand. Nymbus Levels gives community banks and credit unions the tools to compete head-on with national institutions' sophisticated loyalty and reward programs, without the cost, complexity, or lengthy implementation timelines. 'Today's customers expect banking experiences that reflect who they are — their identities, values, and unique needs. Levels moves beyond traditional points-based systems to recognize the full spectrum of customer loyalty, delivering an experience that feels personal, purposeful, and future-ready,' said Jeffery Kendall, CEO and Chairman of Nymbus. Nymbus Levels is powered by a behavior tracking engine designed with campaign flexibility in mind. It enables always-on or time-bound campaigns that reward valuable financial behaviors by assigning monetary value to any type of customer interaction or transaction. Levels can also be easily activated in a backoffice-only mode, enabling businesses to immediately implement value-based pricing and marketing strategies without requiring any customer engagement. From digital adoption and debit card usage to direct deposit setup and balance growth, community banks and credit unions can tailor incentives to align with their most strategic business objectives. Unlike programs tied to single products or individual accounts, Nymbus Levels rewards customer engagement based on their total value, including deposits, loans, and activity, across the entire banking relationship. It features tier-based reward structures that allow financial institutions to incentivize top customers and members with exclusive perks, like waived fees or preferred rates. Customers and members can easily view their progress through a gamified dashboard, sparking greater motivation and long-term usage. Delivered as a fully managed Nymbus service, Levels includes a library of pre-built, field-tested campaign templates, achievement models, and rewards structures designed to drive adoption, increase deposits, and grow non-interest income. Users also gain access to advanced analytics and segmentation tools to continuously optimize performance, prove ROI, and re-engage customers based on the most impactful activities. 'Nymbus Levels is built on a secure, scalable platform that empowers rapid deployment and real-time personalization,' said Ed Gross, Chief Product Officer at Nymbus. 'By combining deep behavioral insights with our robust analytics engine, we're enabling financial institutions to transform their data into targeted actions that build stronger, more profitable relationships with their customers and members.' To learn more about Nymbus Levels and to request a demo, go to About Nymbus Nymbus delivers a cloud-based, highly extensible, full-stack banking platform, empowering community banks and credit unions to accelerate their growth and market positioning. Founded in 2015, Nymbus modernizes legacy core systems that support both brick-and-mortar operations and digital-first institutions, and facilitates the launch of vertical banking strategies or subsidiary brands with a sidecar Core alternative. The Nymbus Banking Platform solution delivers the technology, people, and processes to scale as your financial institution grows. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nymbus
