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The Air Miles Reward Program is a loyalty program or frequent flyer program in Canada, the UK, Spain (under the brand Travel Club), the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar through which points are earned on money spent at participating merchants. Air Miles Reward Programs in each country are independently run.

Contents 1 AIRMILES UK 1.1 Air Miles History 2 Air Miles Canada 3 Air Miles Middle East 4 Air Miles The Netherlands 5 External links 6 References

In the UK, Airmiles has millions of customers. Airmiles can be collected through Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo Credit Card accounts, Shell petrol stations, Tesco supermarkets, Southern Electric, travel products, package holidays bought in cash from AIRMILES and over 100 online retailers including johnlewis.com, eBay.co.uk and Waterstone's.

The Air Miles UK website[1] also provides an online shopping portal to a number of UK retailer partners including eBay.co.uk and Currys. Registered collectors can access retailers' websites via Air Miles Online Shopping and can collect points on purchases.

Airmiles can be redeemed for free flights with British Airways and many more scheduled airlines, Eurostar and ferry crossings, cruises, hotel accommodation, car hire, travel insurance, package holidays, spa & golf breaks and UK leisure activities.

While Air Miles is a subsidiary of British Airways, the airline runs a separate scheme for its frequent flyers called 'BA Miles'.

Air Miles was created during the mid 1980s by Alan Dellor, Commercial Director of British Caledonian Airways and the partners of advertising agency Mills, Smith & Partners. These were Keith Mills, Brian Smith, William Kershaw, Nick Tomlin, Peter Badham and Geoffrey Bean. Liam Cowdrey joined Mills, Smith & Partners some months later.

Together they formed the Air Miles Travel Promotions Company Limited in 1986 and sold 51% of the UK operation to British Airways soon after.

Mills, Smith & Partners produced the consumer launch campaign ‘Stop dreaming. Start Collecting’ gaining a database of three million Air Miles collectors in the first three months.

Keith Mills later went on to found the Nectar loyalty card.

The Canadian Air Miles Reward Program is Canada's largest loyalty program— Air Miles reward miles can be earned at more than 100 participating sponsor companies in Canada. According to Alliance Data (the US parent of the Canadian company that launched the program in 1992 and which continues to operate it), approximately two-thirds of Canadian households actively participate in the Program.^[1]Many Government agencies throughout Canada now accept American Express further opening the possibilities for Canadians to accumulate rewards.

Air Miles collectors can redeem their reward miles for travel, entertainment and merchandise rewards.

In Canada AMEX Bank of Canada ^[2]and Bank of Montreal offer Air Miles Credit Cards and WestJet offers reward miles for on-line flight bookings. Participating airlines (for redeeming reward miles) include WestJet, Air Canada, Northwest Airlines/KLM, American Airlines, Lufthansa, as well as several regional airlines.

Major companies involved in Air Miles Canada include the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Shell Canada, Safeway, A&P/Dominion and Rona.

In the Middle East region Air Miles is co-owned by the parent Air Miles company, HSBC and Spinneys (supermarket group). Currently it operates in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, but is in the process of expanding to three more countries in the region.^{[citation needed]} Air miles points earned in Europe or Canada cannot be redeemed in the Middle East region, as the company operates independently there, but customers can earn Air Miles points across the different countries Air Miles Middle East operates in.

In addition to Air Miles' large retailer network in the Middle East region, users of HSBC credit cards that participate in the Air Miles program are credited Air Miles points for every credit card purchase transaction they complete worldwide.

Airmiles (flight miles) was originally a saving program to get miles and save for a flight.Nowadays other companies are using airmiles and you are able to buy gifts and services from your saved miles also. The usage for flights has been limited to "Miles and money", you pay partly with miles and partly with cash.

Half way through th 1990s Airmiles was introduced with a lot of advertising. The popularity dropped halfway through the 2000s. In 2004 ABN AMRO terminated its program for giving Airmiles, also Albert Heijn did the same in some of its branches to make room for more discounts on their products. At Shell gasstations you still have the option to choose between airmiles or stamps.

After the creation of Airmiles other companies made savingcard like Rocks, Freebees and Power Points.

In other countries where Airmiles are being used the popularity to buy planetickets is much more popular then in the Netherlands.

• AIRMILES UK
• AIRMILES UK shopping portal
• AIR MILES Canada
• AIR MILES Shops Canada
• Airmiles Netherlands

v • d • e Frequent Flyer Programs
AAdvantage (American) · Aeroplan (Air Canada) · Airpoints (Air New Zealand) · Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific-Dragonair) · EuroBonus (SAS) · Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) · Mileage Plus (United) · Miles & More (Lufthansa and Others) · Qualiflyer (Swissair) · WorldPerks (Northwest) Kris Flyer (Singapore Airlines)

• Alliance Data's Canadian Loyalty Business Signs Multi-Year Agreement With Leading Car Rental Brand. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
• Apply for Amex Airmiles Card =2007-11-01.