absolutflying

What airline started the very first mileage-based frequent flyer program? (and when?)

Thanks for any info!

LLZ

American Airlines, 1981!

cordelli

There's a fun reading histoy of FFP's over at:

http://frequentflier.com/ffp-005.htm

Globaliser

I think it was one of Saint Bob's clever ideas. Like removing the lettuce leaf liner from the salads.

tvl4free

I may be wrong about this one, but I seem to recall reading one of Randy's posts indicating that there was a FFP before AA's.
I'm thinking that at some point on this forum it was a trivia question.

I just can't remember what airline it was.

You might want to drop him a note to inquire.

I'm bumping this one back up to the top, cause on of the other buffs might remember as well.

tvl4free

Doc would prolly know where to find that old post.

zipual

I thought it was BA. In one of my MBA classes way back when, we read a Harvard case analysis of them when they were going to start it. I cannot recall if they started it before AA did, or if they just discussed it before AA.

Randy Petersen

You may want to try and find a May 2001 issue of InsideFlyer around - we do a very complete historical look at the start of these programs.

Anyway, American did not have the first frequent flyer program - Western Airlines did. American did have the first 'mileage-based' program as is the clue in your question. Bob Crandall did not invent these programs. While the President of American at this time - thus the fatherhood, it was actually the idea of their advertising agency at the time who also handled some bank accounts and noticed the interest toward motivatiing people to open up new bank accounts for a reward of a toaster, etc.

Tell you what. I'll find the online version of it and have the guys post it up on this link later today:
http://www.webflyer.com/company/pres...tats/index.php

also, for this and more interesting things - click on over to our growing time line of the history of these programs:
http://www.webflyer.com/interactive/timeline/

Mikel at WebFlyer

The article is now posted in the WebFlyer Press Room for your reading pleasure. You can find it by clicking on the "Article on History of Frequent Flyer Programs" link located under the "Interesting Frequent Flyer Statistics" category.

Mikel at WebFlyer

dup

[This message has been edited by Mikel at WebFlyer (edited 09-12-2002).]

RichG

FWIW, the AA web site gives my Aadvantage member since date as May 1, 1981. Anybody beat me?

Eastbay1K

I seem to recall that UA used to track high mileage passengers and that was for whom the original RCCs were set up for (something in the back of my mind was 75K flyers?) I don't know what else they did for these passengers, but do know they tracked the travels. Certainly someone here would remember and perhaps be one of these old-timer FFers?

oldtimer

I believe it was PANAM.

kilton

Hopefully this hasn't been asked 50 times already.

bazers

It is believed to be Texas International Airlines in 1979. But American Airlines was the first one to have a sustained program which began in 1981.