airberlin Expands FFP with New Platinum Status

To coincide with its forthcoming entry in the oneworld global airline alliance on 20 March 2012, airberlin will launch a Platinum status for its topbonus frequent flyer program.

Frequent flyers who have collected 100,000 topbonus status miles within 12 months can take advantage of this and enjoy even more benefits.

“With this new status level, we want to show extra special appreciation for our top frequent flyers and provide them with even more personal service”, said airberlin Chief Commercial Officer Paul Gregorowitsch.

Future benefits of the topbonus Platinum Card include the Platinum Service with a personal customer service team, Business Class upgrade vouchers and airberlin topbonus Silver Cards for spouses as well as access to oneworld First Class lounges within the entire oneworld alliance.

The new Platinum status will correspond to oneworld’s Emerald status. In addition to special airberlin benefits, topbonus Gold members will enjoy all Sapphire status benefits in the oneworld network. The topbonus Silver status is equivalent to the Ruby status in oneworld. From 20 March 2012, topbonus members can collect and redeem miles across the entire oneworld network. On 20 March, all topbonus status cardholders will receive a new topbonus Card which shows their corresponding oneworld status. Silver Card and Gold Card holders who have not reached Platinum status will keep their current status.

The topbonus frequent flyer program is the second largest in Germany. In 2011 alone, the number of participants rose by 17% to 2.8 million. airberlin continues to develop its frequent flyer program under the leadership of Marcus Puffer, Vice President of Loyalty & Partnerships since November 2011.

As part of its comfort initiative, the airline has established Exclusive Waiting Areas for airberlin Business Class status customers and passengers in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn and Munich. In Munich, airberlin now offers its frequent flyers all topbonus status benefits along the travel chain: Holders of a topbonus Silver, Gold or forthcoming Platinum Card can park in the Exclusive Parking Area near the gates, and then easily check in at airberlin’s Priority Check-in counter. They can then make use of the Security Fast Lane to pass through the security screening more quickly. Exclusive Parking Areas are also available in Dusseldorf und Nuremberg.

In January, airberlin started awarding topbonus frequent flyer status miles for every purchase made with the airberlin Visa Card. In addition to award miles for free flights and Business Class upgrades, cardholders will now also collect topbonus status miles. Thus, topbonus members paying for their flights with the airberlin credit card can now earn double status miles and double award miles – when purchasing and when flying.

Also since January, passengers in the Exclusive Waiting Areas of the Berlin-Tegel airport have had the opportunity to download e-paper versions of international newspapers and magazines on their personal electronic devices. This offer is free and includes newspapers such as the Financial Times Germany or Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as well as German and English-language special interest magazines.

airberlin has a workforce of 9,200 employees, a fleet that comprises 170 aircraft with an average age of five years, and flies to 162 destinations in 40 countries. On 20 March 2012, airberlin becomes a full member of oneworld.

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Awards, Flights, Codeshare, FFP, Inflight, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, Yoga, Retreat, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Interviews, Videos, Tickets, Etihad Airways, airberlin, oneworld