Business is all about expansions and mergers, whether it is oil that we are talking about, or airlines. SN Brussels airlines was the national flag bearer of Belgium since 2002, until its merger with the Virgin express in 2006 which resulted in the formation of a new brand altogether, aptly called the brussels airlines. This technically makes the airlines only 2 years only . The destinations of the airline is over 114, but when the code share agreements are included in it. The destinations spread out over 20 European countries . The fleet size is 48 and includes air buses as well. There are rumors of Lufthansa taking over the brussel airlines. The rumor actually originated when the CEO of the airline announced a possible route to Montreal, Canada in near future, the first non- european destination for the airline.
It is not that there are no flights to Asia or Africa or the US, but those flights are a part of the code share agreement.
Since the brussels airline is well aware of this issue, it has tried to compensate in other ways. The airline offers a number of frequent flyer deals, the most important one of which is the ‘privilege’. The brussels airlines call it their loyalty program. The program helps the frequent flyers in earning miles towards a free flight aboard the brussel airlines. The privilege loyalty program offers them a 10,000 miles one way free ticket as well as the option to upgrade to blue flex economy class if the mileage is above 5000 miles. The airlines even offers extra weight to be carried with n europe with a flight mileage earned more than 300 miles. What more could one ask from a loyalty program.
The website of the brussels airlines offers accounts to the flyers, where they can enter their prospective dates of flying and the airline will update them with regular information on the latest schedule of the flights as well as other perks of the loyalty program.
Their deals with Expedia/WWTE offer hotel reservations to their passengers as well. Due to their affiliations with travel agencies, they promote rental cars as well. On taking up these offers, the passengers are given credit points in the loyalty program, or discounts on the bookings, whatever the airline may deem suitable at the time. Sometimes, the brussel airlines give the option to the passenger to take what ever suits them. However, majority prefers credit points on the loyalty program of the brussels airline.
The web site of the airline offers travel insurance as well as luggage insurance. That is conditional, i.e. applicable only if the ticket for brussels airlines is purchased from the web site itself, not through a travel agent. The employee and student discounts are also applicable only if the ticket is purchased from the web site. There is absolutely no relaxation in this policy of the brussels airline.
Another very rare offer is that of cancellation insurance. Not many airlines offer this. The condition again applies only if the ticket was purchased from the web site. However, there is an addition point, that the passenger pays a small amount in the beginning for the cancellation insurance. Then brussels airlines pay back the entire amount, if the cancellation is due to a genuine reason that may include disease, death, family reasons, professional reasons or maternal reasons. The process itself is hassle free and only a declaration form is to be filled and duly submitted electronically.
The airline has also invested in travel guides. They are cheap, easy to read and interesting. Although most of the brussel airlines sell these, it is also offered as complimentary as a part of the loyalty program.
