Love Fiji Airways? Fiji’s national carrier has just given flyers another reason to say ‘bula’ to the airline after announcing it would be joining American Airlines’ AAdvantage travel loyalty program within the next year.
By adopting American’s AAdvantage program, Fiji Airways says its flyers will be able to take advantage of benefits as well as earning and redemption options with both airlines.
Customers who become AAdvantage members can earn their way up to perks like priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary baggage, preferred seats and enhanced award redemption for Elite members.
“This loyalty partnership marks a significant milestone, bringing together two renowned carriers to offer new benefits to millions of travelers,” Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen said.
“We are excited about the positive impact this collaboration will have on both our airlines and our guests who will benefit from the exclusive perks.”
According to the airline, the adoption of AAdvantage, the world’s longest-running travel loyalty program since 1981, further enhances Fiji Airways’ offerings and strengthens its ties with American travellers.
“We are taking our partnership with Fiji Airways one step further by offering our mutual customers the opportunity to unlock more destinations and travel experiences through the AAdvantageprogram,” American Airlines Vice President of Partnerships Anmol Bhargava said.
“We look forward to welcoming Fiji Airways customers into the AAdvantageprogram so they can experience all the ways we deliver on our commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage member.”
In early June, Fiji Airways announced it would become the 15th full-member airline of the oneworld alliance, moving up from its previous status as a oneworld connect partner.
Through its new oneworld status and the collaboration with AA, the carrier aims to help boost Fiji’s tourism industry by attracting more American travellers and offering better travel experiences.
“With this partnership, Fiji Airways is set to gain access to a vast network of American travellers, potentially increasing visitor arrivals to the enchanting destination of Fiji,” Viljoen said.
“The allure of Fiji’s pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality is expected to attract a growing number of American tourists, contributing to the nation’s thriving tourism industry.”
In May, the Fiji Airways boss said the carrier would not introduce its own loyalty program as members would be less likely to join “because they may only visit Fiji once or twice a year”.
“When they spend money on credit cards in their home markets or fly to other destinations, they want to earn miles with programs that are more relevant to them,” he told Forbes.
“This is the reason why we rely on partner programs to help elevate our offering.”
“With such a small local market, we just don’t see a need to start a loyalty program that may not appeal to travellers looking to rack up points.”
Linking with an already existing program, Viljoen said, could “boost Fiji’s value proposition since people can earn and redeem miles in a more familiar program they can use elsewhere”.
FJ customers will be able to join AAdvantage via the Fiji Airways website or American Airlines website.
Viljoen recently teased the prospect of flying to two new ports on Australia’s east coast, giving even more Aussies direct access to Fiji’s golden shores.
Earlier this week, Fiji Airways placed above aviation giants like Etihad, Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, climbing to 14th place in the world’s top airline category. By doing so, it also finished as the Australia and Pacific region’s favourite carrier.
FJ soared to new heights in 2023, carrying a staggering 2.1 million passengers and marking an impressive 57 per cent lift from 2022.
