Loyalty Programs—Once a Perk—Now Help Airlines Survive
Loyalty Programs—Once a Perk—Now Help Airlines Survive
American Airlines created the first airline frequent flier program in 1981. WSJ breaks down how AAdvantage and similar loyalty programs became something airlines depend on for revenue. Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP
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Case Study: American Airlines
Loyalty programs have become a staple of the airline industry. But it hasn’t always been that way. In this Case Study, we look at the launch of the first airline loyalty program—American Airlines’ AAdvantage—and how it transformed the industry.
