Earlier this month, SriLankan Airlines launched its new frequent flyer programme, ‘FlySmiLes’, which promises a wide range of exciting rewards for passengers of Sri Lanka’s award-winning National Carrier.
The airline’s previous frequent flyer programme, Skywards, ended on 31 March 2008 as SriLankan’s management changed hands.
Manoj Gunawardena, Head of Worldwide Passenger Sales, said, “FlySmiLes will be introducing a number of partner airlines and other companies which will offer members a choice to both earn and burn miles for a variety of goods and services. These will range from hotel stays to bank services, retailers, and especially SriLankan Holidays – the airline’s leisure arm.”
FlySmiLes has three tiers of membership – Gold, Silver, and Blue – according to how many miles are accrued. Every valid mile flown is credited to a member’s FlySmiLes account as one mile.
Members can exchange their miles for rewards such as free air tickets to Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and the Far East; and upgrades. They also have a wide range of other benefits such as pre-assigned seating and priority wait-listing.
Gold and Silver members are entitled to even more benefits. These include the use of the airline’s lounge at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, priority check-in, free excess baggage (up to 12 kg for Silver and 16 kg for Gold), priority baggage delivery, family bonus, and fast track facility (for Gold members).
Silver membership is for those who earn over 25,000 miles or fly a minimum of 20 sectors within a calendar year. Gold membership is for those with more than 50,000 miles or 40 sectors within a calendar year.
Existing Skywards members have a choice of transferring their Skywards Miles to FlySmiLes in full or in part.
Members of Skywards who join FlySmiLes will be immediately placed in the same tier – e.g. Gold members are enrolled as Gold members. This offer is valid during the introductory period up to 30th June 2008, after which they can do so only upon transferring a similar number of points from Skywards to FlySmiLes.