Looking for frequent flyer research
Jul 26, 2000 | 1:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 2
Looking for frequent flyer research
I am conducting research for a business that is developing a service for companies that run loyalty programs and and am looking for general or professionally-collected information that may already be available regarding frequent flyer programs (and any other industries with loyalty programs). I have data from newpapers, magazines, and annual reports.
I respect the purpose of this forum and hope this request is appropriate. I would greatly appreciate any leads and referrals you could provide for the following topics:
1. Distribution of account balances across a frequent flyer program, e.g. percentage of customers with 500 miles, 1000 miles, etc. combined with the demographics of the account holders at each of the account balance levels, e.g. of members with 50,000 miles, 75% are between 35 - 50, 25% are over 50; 20% have an airline affiliated credit card, etc..
2. Consumer attitudes and preferences for cash redemption opportunities and valuation levels, e.g. I would accept $250 for 25,000 miles, $100 for 15,000, etc... A current example is American Express allows redemption of 20,000 points for $100, 3 times per year.
I respect the purpose of this forum and hope this request is appropriate. I would greatly appreciate any leads and referrals you could provide for the following topics:
1. Distribution of account balances across a frequent flyer program, e.g. percentage of customers with 500 miles, 1000 miles, etc. combined with the demographics of the account holders at each of the account balance levels, e.g. of members with 50,000 miles, 75% are between 35 - 50, 25% are over 50; 20% have an airline affiliated credit card, etc..
2. Consumer attitudes and preferences for cash redemption opportunities and valuation levels, e.g. I would accept $250 for 25,000 miles, $100 for 15,000, etc... A current example is American Express allows redemption of 20,000 points for $100, 3 times per year.
Jul 26, 2000 | 2:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wherever you go, there you are
Posts: 641
Well, I suppose after asking how one would contact you to help you with your query, the next question might be what kind of compensation is involved, since it sounds like the information you would obtain would be used for commercial purposes, i.e., sold for what sums consultancy outfits charge.
Jul 26, 2000 | 2:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 78
Originally posted by FQTV:
Well, I suppose after asking how one would contact you to help you with your query, the next question might be what kind of compensation is involved, since it sounds like the information you would obtain would be used for commercial purposes, i.e., sold for what sums consultancy outfits charge.
Well, I suppose after asking how one would contact you to help you with your query, the next question might be what kind of compensation is involved, since it sounds like the information you would obtain would be used for commercial purposes, i.e., sold for what sums consultancy outfits charge.
)btw, laffed my butt off at your humor post...
Jul 26, 2000 | 7:51 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 2
FQTV et al..., I would certainly expect to arrange compensation at fair market for (1) research that I can verify contains the information and detail I need, or (2) leads that produce results. If you can provide either, please e-mail me at [email protected] and we can discuss further. Thank you for your consideration.
Jul 26, 2000 | 8:46 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
crushday: Welcome to FT!
The market data which you seek is difficult to obtain and it is difficult for FTers to provide. The primary reason for this lack of data is simply that FTers represent a small minority of members of FF and related loyalty programs. If I am not mistaken, this representation is also likely skewed towards the more elite-level FFs (I'm an exception). Now, I'm not criticising FTers as being snooty or elitist or anything, but bear in mind that it is these elite level FFs who do a large proportion of the airlines' business and therefore they have the most experience and the most to talk about when it comes to FF programs and air travel in general. FlyerTalk provides a great forum in which they can discuss their travel experiences. It also provides a great source of information from relative newcomers to air travel.
I also have some other questions regarding the data you seek. Perhaps it may help to point you in the right direction.
1. Distribution of account balances. This is a tough question. Do you mean current balance? That is surely always in flux due to mileage redemption. Occasional flyers are likely to redeem smaller ("cheaper") awards for less points, while more frequent flyers are more likely to go for the big awards. How about instead you look at lifetime accumulated miles? Then you have to separate actual flying miles from miles from other sources. Bottom line, a survey of all customers is required to get this information.
2. The value of miles. Again, you're going to have to survey the FF program members. And again, the participants on FT do not form a representative cross section of all FF program members (though a diverse crowd we are).
Well, what's my point you ask? You'll need to conduct a random sampling survey of FF program members to get a true representative slice of all members. You'll need access to a listing of all FF members, so you're going to have to get this from an airline. Next, all the data you seek on demographics, flight patterns, etc. is stored nicely, I am sure, within the FF program's own computer databases. Again, you'd have to get this information from the airline. Which leads me to this: Why would any airline want to share this information? They surely use it in-house already to tailour their FF and marketing programs. I am sure they run data mining software through their databases already.
The way I see it, your friendly neighbourhood airline has all the information in all the detail you seek. My suggestion is to try to contact them. They are likely already selling this kind of information about us. BTW, what kind of service is your business offering to these companies that run loyalty programs?
Good luck!
FewMiles..
By the way, the answers to your survey questions are: yes, elephants, 4250, sometimes, purple, and no, I am not left-handed.
The market data which you seek is difficult to obtain and it is difficult for FTers to provide. The primary reason for this lack of data is simply that FTers represent a small minority of members of FF and related loyalty programs. If I am not mistaken, this representation is also likely skewed towards the more elite-level FFs (I'm an exception). Now, I'm not criticising FTers as being snooty or elitist or anything, but bear in mind that it is these elite level FFs who do a large proportion of the airlines' business and therefore they have the most experience and the most to talk about when it comes to FF programs and air travel in general. FlyerTalk provides a great forum in which they can discuss their travel experiences. It also provides a great source of information from relative newcomers to air travel.
I also have some other questions regarding the data you seek. Perhaps it may help to point you in the right direction.
1. Distribution of account balances. This is a tough question. Do you mean current balance? That is surely always in flux due to mileage redemption. Occasional flyers are likely to redeem smaller ("cheaper") awards for less points, while more frequent flyers are more likely to go for the big awards. How about instead you look at lifetime accumulated miles? Then you have to separate actual flying miles from miles from other sources. Bottom line, a survey of all customers is required to get this information.
2. The value of miles. Again, you're going to have to survey the FF program members. And again, the participants on FT do not form a representative cross section of all FF program members (though a diverse crowd we are).
Well, what's my point you ask? You'll need to conduct a random sampling survey of FF program members to get a true representative slice of all members. You'll need access to a listing of all FF members, so you're going to have to get this from an airline. Next, all the data you seek on demographics, flight patterns, etc. is stored nicely, I am sure, within the FF program's own computer databases. Again, you'd have to get this information from the airline. Which leads me to this: Why would any airline want to share this information? They surely use it in-house already to tailour their FF and marketing programs. I am sure they run data mining software through their databases already.
The way I see it, your friendly neighbourhood airline has all the information in all the detail you seek. My suggestion is to try to contact them. They are likely already selling this kind of information about us. BTW, what kind of service is your business offering to these companies that run loyalty programs?
Good luck!
FewMiles..
By the way, the answers to your survey questions are: yes, elephants, 4250, sometimes, purple, and no, I am not left-handed.
Jul 26, 2000 | 9:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Arizona
Programs: MSP raised, Elite since age 17
Posts: 4,723
I don't even think the airlines have much probing data-- FF applications only ask for name, address, gender, and maybe birthdate-- nothing about income, etc. And rightly so, I think. ("... based on your income, we can only offer you full Y...")
I was surprised that TACA asked me if I was married-- but maybe the agent just wanted to know.
I was surprised that TACA asked me if I was married-- but maybe the agent just wanted to know.