Air India and The Bicester Collection Forge New Partnership to Reward Flying Returns Loyalty Programme Members
Air India, India’s leading global airline, has announced an exclusive partnership with The Bicester Collection, renowned for its luxury shopping Villages across Western Europe, to enhance its redesigned Flying Returns loyalty programme.
Under this partnership, Flying Returns members can earn 5 Points for every GBP 4 or EUR 4 spent at any of The Bicester Collection’s nine open-air luxury shopping Villages conveniently located near major European cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Dublin, Madrid, and Barcelona. To accrue Reward Points, members simply need to present their Air India Flying Returns digital membership card along with their receipts at the Villages’ Concierge Services.
The Bicester Collection’s Villages offer a curated selection of global and European fashion and lifestyle brands, providing exceptional savings and premium hospitality, making them preferred destinations for discerning travellers and shoppers alike.
Sunil Suresh, Head of Marketing, Loyalty & E-commerce at Air India, highlighted, “This partnership underscores our commitment to enhancing the ‘reimagined’ Flying Returns programme, offering more robust rewards. By adding The Bicester Collection to our expanding network of ‘earn’ partners, we provide loyal guests with greater opportunities to accumulate points for valued experiences.”
“The demand for luxury shopping among Indian travellers is growing significantly, and this collaboration not only caters to them but also extends benefits to our loyal guests across Europe, offering diverse avenues to earn Flying Returns points beyond air travel,” added Suresh.
Laurent Vinay, Chief Brand and Communication Officer at The Bicester Collection, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Air India and look forward to welcoming new guests from India. This collaboration opens avenues for customer acquisition and aligns with our commitment to delivering elevated experiences, echoing Air India’s ethos of unparalleled hospitality and customized service.”
This announcement marks Air India’s latest initiative in transforming Flying Returns, coinciding with its ongoing five-year strategic evolution. Earlier this year, Air India revamped Flying Returns with a simplified structure, customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and a refreshed program identity, shifting towards a spend-based points accumulation model that offers instant global status and privileges.
Over the past 18 months, Air India has expanded the Flying Returns programme by adding over 50 partners, enhancing member convenience, rewards, and recognition. With 94 weekly non-stop flights to India from 10 European cities, including recent expansions to Zurich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Milan, Air India continues to strengthen its global presence and service offerings.
