Randy Petersen in ANC
Nov 12, 2000 | 8:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Anchorage, AK USA
Posts: 4
Randy Petersen in ANC
FT guru woos ANC crowd! Following is reprint of Anchorage Daily News article on Randy Petersen which appeared after the ABTA eat-and-burp luncheon!
Frequent flyer guru shares trends of airline programs
By Scott Mcmurren
(Published November 12, 2000)
If there ever was a "Mileage Guru," Randy Petersen would fit the bill.
Petersen has made a business of tracking frequent flyer miles and counseling travelers how best to utilize the myriad mileage
programs available. He was in Anchorage last week to address the monthly meeting of the Alaska Business Travel Association.
"I'm just a passenger who spent a little too much time in 22F," said Petersen, as he detailed his transition from a career in men's
clothing to a nationally known expert on frequent flyer programs.
Because many Alaskans travel via airlines, Petersen's comments are especially appropriate, particularly as he details the evolution
of the airline programs from frequent flyer programs to frequent buyer programs.
"With more than 40 million members, the American Airlines AAdvantage program is the largest frequent flyer plan. Today, 57
percent of miles earned are accrued through nonflight activity," Petersen said.
How?
Well, in addition to miles for home mortgages and stock trading accounts, American awards miles to members who fly on Alaska
Airlines, rent from Avis, stay at any number of hotel chains, phone home with MCI or shop at Kroger. If you charge your bill using
a Citibank Visa or Mastercard, you earn even more miles.
Here in Alaska, we all know someone who flies a lot. In fact, you may know a "Mileage Millionaire," who has accrued more than
a million frequent flyer miles.
"There are about 121,000 mileage millionaires in America," Petersen said.
Petersen says frequent flyer plans are changing and "they don't know what they want to be when they grow up."
Right now, they represent a profitable revenue stream, primarily because of the partner companies who purchase miles as
customer incentives. These include car rental companies, hotels, car dealers, grocery stores and a host of other merchants.
In fact, Petersen predicts there will be two different kinds of programs in the future: those offering more free trips and those
offering perks to the frequent flyer.
"Many frequent flyers don't need any more trips," Petersen said. "They just want respect when they get on the plane."
Frequent travelers who want more respect should consider ordering one of Petersen's special T-shirts, which reads "What part of
UPGRADE don't you understand?"
Petersen's magazine, Inside Flyer, provides frequent travelers tips on how to get the most miles when traveling. On the Web site www.insideflyer.com, Petersen lists special programs by Hilton, American Airlines, Delta and Northwest. Bonus miles, segment
bonuses and loyalty awards all are part of Petersen's frequent flyer mix. There's also a chat room and discussion boards for
travelers from around the world on www.webflyer.comwww.webflyer.com.
Petersen is fascinated with the psychology of mileage accrual.
"Frequent flyers love the fact that they beat the airlines and got something for free," he said.
In fact, Petersen just returned from a three-day flying marathon where he flew around Central America and South America on
several different airlines. The payoff? A cool 1 million mile bonus.
What does Petersen do with his miles? He doesn't redeem the miles for his personal travel. He makes a habit of donating the miles
to nonprofit organizations.
Reviewing the local landscape last week, Petersen said he looks forward to returning to Alaska. He's impressed with Alaska
Airlines' efforts with its mileage plan.
"Their credit card is one of the best," he said. "And Alaska's decision not to join a big alliance is a bold move and a good one.
"The Web check-in and kiosk check-in projects put them way ahead of everyone else," he said.
In the meantime, Petersen repeats the mantra so many frequent flyers have memorized: "He who dies with the most miles wins."
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. He can be reached at [email protected]
Frequent flyer guru shares trends of airline programs
By Scott Mcmurren
(Published November 12, 2000)
If there ever was a "Mileage Guru," Randy Petersen would fit the bill.
Petersen has made a business of tracking frequent flyer miles and counseling travelers how best to utilize the myriad mileage
programs available. He was in Anchorage last week to address the monthly meeting of the Alaska Business Travel Association.
"I'm just a passenger who spent a little too much time in 22F," said Petersen, as he detailed his transition from a career in men's
clothing to a nationally known expert on frequent flyer programs.
Because many Alaskans travel via airlines, Petersen's comments are especially appropriate, particularly as he details the evolution
of the airline programs from frequent flyer programs to frequent buyer programs.
"With more than 40 million members, the American Airlines AAdvantage program is the largest frequent flyer plan. Today, 57
percent of miles earned are accrued through nonflight activity," Petersen said.
How?
Well, in addition to miles for home mortgages and stock trading accounts, American awards miles to members who fly on Alaska
Airlines, rent from Avis, stay at any number of hotel chains, phone home with MCI or shop at Kroger. If you charge your bill using
a Citibank Visa or Mastercard, you earn even more miles.
Here in Alaska, we all know someone who flies a lot. In fact, you may know a "Mileage Millionaire," who has accrued more than
a million frequent flyer miles.
"There are about 121,000 mileage millionaires in America," Petersen said.
Petersen says frequent flyer plans are changing and "they don't know what they want to be when they grow up."
Right now, they represent a profitable revenue stream, primarily because of the partner companies who purchase miles as
customer incentives. These include car rental companies, hotels, car dealers, grocery stores and a host of other merchants.
In fact, Petersen predicts there will be two different kinds of programs in the future: those offering more free trips and those
offering perks to the frequent flyer.
"Many frequent flyers don't need any more trips," Petersen said. "They just want respect when they get on the plane."
Frequent travelers who want more respect should consider ordering one of Petersen's special T-shirts, which reads "What part of
UPGRADE don't you understand?"
Petersen's magazine, Inside Flyer, provides frequent travelers tips on how to get the most miles when traveling. On the Web site www.insideflyer.com, Petersen lists special programs by Hilton, American Airlines, Delta and Northwest. Bonus miles, segment
bonuses and loyalty awards all are part of Petersen's frequent flyer mix. There's also a chat room and discussion boards for
travelers from around the world on www.webflyer.comwww.webflyer.com.
Petersen is fascinated with the psychology of mileage accrual.
"Frequent flyers love the fact that they beat the airlines and got something for free," he said.
In fact, Petersen just returned from a three-day flying marathon where he flew around Central America and South America on
several different airlines. The payoff? A cool 1 million mile bonus.
What does Petersen do with his miles? He doesn't redeem the miles for his personal travel. He makes a habit of donating the miles
to nonprofit organizations.
Reviewing the local landscape last week, Petersen said he looks forward to returning to Alaska. He's impressed with Alaska
Airlines' efforts with its mileage plan.
"Their credit card is one of the best," he said. "And Alaska's decision not to join a big alliance is a bold move and a good one.
"The Web check-in and kiosk check-in projects put them way ahead of everyone else," he said.
In the meantime, Petersen repeats the mantra so many frequent flyers have memorized: "He who dies with the most miles wins."
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. He can be reached at [email protected]
