Help - which frequent flyer programs give out plastic cards upon signing up?
 

Hey :D

Can anyone tell me which airlines give out plastic cards when you sign up for their frequent-flyer program?

Thanks!

EDIT: I'm sorry to post the thread here!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

"Help!" would be a great title for a Beatles movie; for an FT thread, not so much.

You should alert a Moderator by clicking on the red triangle, and request that your thread be moved to the appropriate forum (Information Desk?), and be given a descriptive thread title to give FTers a sense of what the thread is all about.

Here are two vintage threads that may not apply anymore, but are fun to peruse
anyway:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...p-cards-2.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...tic-cards.html

I find this quote exciting :D

I'm sorry :( will not happen again!

I know JAL and ANA do, as I have their cards without ever having flown them.

But from how long ago? Just because an airline used to do so a few years ago does not prove that it still does it today. Many programs have cut back on sending out plastic membership cards in recent years.

I have a LH one from fairly recently

Air Canada, ANA, Asiana.

SAS also sends plastic cards upon signing up.

As do Virgin Atlantic.

I also got both JAL and ANA recently, within the past few months. Both sent me plastic membership cards.

Recently received ANA card :)

I am in search of other cards.

Thanks for your answers.

CX does, but it'll cost you 50 USD (unless you have one of their co-branded CC's)

Hmm..that's quite a markup on a 20 cent piece of plastic.

A3 sends them out, although possibly only after making at least one flight with them.

One of the more riveting threads on FT in a long time.

Just like half a year. No flights on them, still.

Got one from Iberia a couple months ago

of course I am curious if you are just curious or making a collage or something

Not completely sure, but possibly Air Berlin, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Finnair.

Given CX's location, it's probably not local mail for most people who request it. So some significant chunk is presumably international shipping & handling.

But it's probably mostly to discourage people from bothering them about it. :D

It's actually the annual fee for MPC

Got one from JAL when I signed up a few months back. It's actually really nice, and I'm surprised they shipped it out all the way to the 'states.

Do any airlines send out basic member cards?
 

Just curious.

It used to be (many moons ago) that when you signed up to a frequent flyer scheme the airline would send you out a card immediately, even if you hadn't flown with them.

Then they only sent you a card after you completed your first flight.

Now many (most?) airlines only send you a card once you rank up to an "executive" level (silver or equiv etc).

My question is do any airlines still send out basic member cards?

A:Just for joining or
B:Once you've flown once with them?

I have a united account and I've just put my first return trip on it. Can I expect a card in the post or not?

Similar but different question. I have a KLM Ivory card from the days when you just made one flight and they sent out your pack. It's getting old though. Can I request a new one?

Thanks.

What's the point of having a member card if you don't hold status? Just waste of plastic to send out basic membership cards, particularly in times where you can just store your cards electronically.

IIRC, LH still sends out M&M blue cards.

NH, JL & LY sent me new member cards within the past 3-4 year. LY was a "new" account after previous one was deactivated for lack of use.

They're often the correct size to fit in the slot for those hotel rooms that require you to insert the room key into a reader in order to keep the power or CH&A on if you just need to leave the room for 5-10 minutes and don't want to have to fumble for the slot (often located 3 or more meters from the door) upon return

SQ and A3 send out cards once you have one flight with mileage accrued logged.

The A3 card (which was shipped from Malta) came faster than the SQ card, despite me being in SIN.

I've gotten "basic" level cards from JAL, ANA, Iberia and Airtran (when they were a thing).

I can confirm JAL still send them out as I got mine yesterday.

That's what my Costco card is for on the road.

AB sends basic member cards, got one earlier this year.