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Loyalty News

Short, sourced briefs on loyalty program launches, ecosystem deals and industry moves.

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launch

Flying Blue Adds Tiered Award Fares on Air France and KLM

New Light, Standard and Flex bundles take effect September 8, 2026 for awards on the two carriers.

partnership

Regent Seven Seas Adds GHA Discovery Perks to Cruises Bookings earn members D$ credits and Titanium status that stack with advisor benefits.

launch

Revolut Launches RevPoints Conversion to I Prefer Points UK users can now transfer RevPoints to I Prefer at a 1:2 ratio.

partnership

HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card in Australia to Close November 2026 HSBC will close the card on November 18, 2026, after ending its retail banking operations in Australia.

launch

Michaels expands experiential store model to third location The third site in Rogers, Arkansas, joins earlier openings in Easton, Ohio, and Irving, Texas, with updated layouts and member-only self-checkout access.

partnership

Bilt and BLADE Expand Partnership to Include App Bookings and Cash Redemptions Members can now book BLADE flights directly in the Bilt app and apply Bilt Cash toward up to two seats annually.

launch

L.L. Bean Launches Standalone Loyalty Program With Charitable Voting Members earn points and cast one vote per purchase on the direction of 250000 dollars in charitable investments.

launch

Millennium Hotels Offers 15,000 to 30,000 Bonus Points Per Stay The Singapore-based chain limits the promotion to bookings made August 13 to 18 and excludes Middle East properties.

acquisition

Air Canada Nears $2 Billion Aeroplan Stake Sale to Blackstone The transaction would also include investments from Canadian funds and help finance new aircraft purchases plus interior upgrades.

partnership

Airbnb Partners With Tripadvisor Experiences, Drops Build-Your-Own Strategy The deal will make a selection of tours, activities and attractions from Viator and Tripadvisor experiences bookable on Airbnb later this year.

partnership

Banyan Tree Gives Explorer Tier to Visa Cardholders in Asia-Pacific The promotion also includes a limited free night voucher after two nights through July 2027.

partnership

Natural Grocers posts Q3 gains via loyalty and stores The company opened three new stores and expanded its DoorDash partnership during the quarter.

launch

Qatar Airways Schedules A350 on Shortest Route to Bahrain The carrier will fly its 283-seat A350-900 between Doha and Bahrain on August 12 and 13.

launch

Delta Offers Low-Cost Award Seats to Riyadh Ahead of October Launch Delta Air Lines is selling one-way basic economy redemptions from Atlanta to Riyadh starting at 15,000 miles, with further discounts for co-branded cardholders.

launch

Alum launches luxury condo-hotel concept in Tuscaloosa The 116,000-square-foot project will include 68 units, a members club, rooftop lounge and events space near the University of Alabama.

partnership

Kenya Airways Offers Accor Elite Matches to Asante Platinum ALL Accor Gold, Platinum and Diamond members can match into Asante Platinum status through StatusMatch for a fee that varies by region.

launch

Walmart and Wing launch drone deliveries at five Orlando stores The service forms part of an expanding partnership that will reach over 270 Walmart locations in 2027.

launch

Accor Offers 4X Points at Select Hotels August 2026 to January 2027 ALL members earn four times base points on one registered stay at listed properties after booking by September 27.

launch

Domino’s pays diners to beta test its relaunched app, website Customers receive a $5 discount after placing orders on the updated platform between Aug. 3-30, with no feedback required for the coupon.

acquisition

Hyatt Explores Local Acquisitions and India Brand for Fivefold Growth The company operates 56 hotels across nine brands in India and Southwest Asia with a pipeline of 100 properties.

launch

Lidl US Introduces 10 Percent Employee Discount The benefit stacks on loyalty offers and applies to private label and bakery items.

launch

Accor Launches Double Points for Greater China Meetings and Events The offer runs through March 2027 for Meeting Planner members who book by January 31.

launch

World of Hyatt Doubles Points on Non-Stay Dining in Asia Pacific The promotion runs August 1 to September 30 2026 and caps bonus points at 30000.

launch

American AAdvantage Adds Oman Air Award Redemptions Redemptions became available July 30, 2026 on aa.com more than a year after Oman Air joined the oneworld alliance.

launch

Delta Launches SkyMiles Starter Pack for New Members New US members can earn up to 5,000 bonus miles by completing three activities after enrolling within 45 days of joining the program.

platform

Accor Increases ALL Signature Absolute Subscription Prices Accor will apply higher rates for the ALL Signature Absolute subscription to existing members starting August 1, 2026, after already using the new pricing for signups since July 1.

partnership

Philippine Airlines Awards Now Available Using Alaska Airlines Miles Alaska Airlines and Philippine Airlines signed a frequent flier agreement in May 2025, and awards are now bookable on Alaska's website.

platform

Sprouts CEO Pushes Stores, Distribution and Loyalty The grocer plans 42 new stores in 2026 while expanding its self-distribution network and first-party data from the loyalty program.

platform

Verified Identity Seen as Key to Airline Direct Ties Airlines gain purchase data from direct bookings but often lack details on traveler identities and communities that could strengthen long-term loyalty.

launch

Accor Launches ALL Bonus Points Promotion for Stays Through September 2026 The promotion offers between 1,000 and 7,500 points per stay depending on length and rate type, with registration required by July 31.

launch

Lufthansa Launches Frequent Traveller Status for Select Cardholders Eligible Miles & More credit card holders in five countries can purchase the status valid through February 28 2027.

acquisition

Air France-KLM, Lufthansa Submit Offers for TAP Stake Portugal seeks to sell 44.9 percent of TAP Air Portugal to one of two European groups after IAG stepped aside.

launch

Air Canada introduces basic fares in premium economy and business The new fares cover select international routes and still provide checked bags along with priority services for elites.

partnership

Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Update Partnership Earnings SkyMiles members will earn one mile per dollar at Starbucks starting August 5 if they fly Delta at least once a year.

acquisition

TravelAI acquires Sonder brand and IP after bankruptcy The purchase excludes Sonder's properties and staff, with the site now live as a curated hotel guide using TravelAI memory tools.

partnership

United and Lufthansa Group Extend Top-Tier Reciprocal Benefits Global Services and HON Circle members gain first-class check-in and additional priority services on partner flights.

partnership

Accor and Amex Expand Partnership to 12 Countries in 2026 The alliance adds elite status matching for eligible card members and a new option to transfer Membership Rewards points to ALL Accor.

launch

Banyan Tree Relaunches WithBanyan With Four Membership Tiers The guest recognition program qualifies members via spend thresholds or nights and maintains compatibility with ALL Accor benefits.

launch

Avianca Lifemiles Offers Up to 130% Bonus on Purchases Targeted members may acquire miles at 1.43 cents each through July 24.

partnership

JetBlue Launches Loyalty-Linked Installment Financing with ClarityPay Customers can earn TrueBlue points on bookings paid over time through the new program.

partnership

Marriott and Japan Airlines Launch Preferred Partnership Bonvoy members who link accounts receive 2,000 to 40,000 JAL FLY ON Points a year based on their hotel tier, with no flying required.

partnership

Accor and IndiGo Launch Reciprocal Loyalty Point Exchange The exchange connects IndiGo's 140-plus destinations and 13 million BluChip members with Accor's 45-plus hotel brands.

partnership

Etihad, Fastjet Zimbabwe Sign Interline Codeshare and Loyalty MoU Etihad Guest members will earn and redeem miles on Fastjet Zimbabwe flights under the new agreement.

partnership

Accor and H World Link Loyalty and Booking Platforms The partnership begins with 240 hotels and select benefits before expanding to full portfolios.

partnership

Aeroplan and Club Avolta launch North American loyalty partnership Aeroplan members earn one point per C$2 spent across more than 900 Avolta travel retail locations, with the network expanding to nearly 1,900 outlets later in 2026.

partnership

IHG, Revolut and Visa launch co-branded debit cards in the UK The UK cards come in two tiers, with the £18-a-month Elite card earning up to six IHG One Rewards points per pound spent at IHG hotels.

launch

Tata Starbucks revamps rewards program with new Reserve tier in India The reworked program adds a Reserve tier above Green and Gold, earning 1.3 times the standard rate plus a personalized black card for members above 5,000 Stars a year.

platform

Kroger lets loyalty members redeem points for grocery savings Members can now redeem 100 points for $1 off groceries, capped at $10 a day, in addition to the fuel discounts the program previously offered.

launch

Aéropostale launches first loyalty program, linked with JCPenney Catalyst Brands' new Rewards Access program lets shoppers earn and redeem across both retailers, with every 200 points earned converting to a $10 CashPass.

platform

Lidl US replaces myLidl with points-based Lidl Plus app The retailer retired myLidl on June 30 and opened Lidl Plus downloads July 1, shifting from spending-threshold rewards to points redeemable for free products.

partnership

Wyndham and Barclays relaunch Wyndham Rewards credit card suite The new Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier card carries a $395 annual fee, earns 8X points on Wyndham stays, and makes points non-expiring for the first time in the portfolio.

Partnership

Lowe's adds Live Nation concert perks to MyLowe's Rewards A multi-year partnership announced June 11, 2026 gives MyLowe's Rewards and MyLowe's Pro Rewards members concert benefits, and makes Lowe's the first presenting partner of Live Nation's new amphitheater tailgate experience.

Ecosystem

Spenn, Norwegian Reward and Strawberry go live on GRAVTY Three Nordic loyalty programs launched on a single platform on June 3, 2026, putting a shared points ecosystem behind Norwegian, Strawberry Hotels, Uno-X, 7-Eleven, Narvesen and REMA 1000.

launch

Best Buy adds reward points to My Best Buy Plus and Total memberships Paid members earn 1 percent back in points, or 6 percent with the My Best Buy Credit Card, when the points program takes effect June 4, 2026.

launch

Edmonton airport launches YEGplus, Canada's first airport loyalty program The free program spans Essential, Silver and Gold tiers, earning points on parking, terminal purchases and surveys, redeemable for parking upgrades, contest entries and promo cards.

acquisition

Capillary Technologies completes acquisition of SessionM from Mastercard The deal, first announced in February, closed on May 1, 2026 and brings SessionM's Fortune 500 retail, airline and CPG clients onto Capillary's loyalty platform.

partnership

Accor and Uber form multi-market loyalty partnership ALL Accor members will earn points on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, with reciprocal status benefits, rolling out across seven markets in the second half of 2026.

partnership

Lyft and United launch first pay-with-miles option for U.S. rideshare MileagePlus members can redeem miles directly in the Lyft app, cover fares fully or partially, and earn 1,000 bonus miles for linking accounts.

partnership

Wells Fargo adds Cathay Pacific as a rewards transfer partner Cardholders can move Wells Fargo Rewards points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio with no minimum balance, the program's first predominantly Asia-based partner.

acquisition

Adyen agrees to acquire loyalty platform Talon.One for €750 million Adyen paid €750 million in cash for full ownership, with Talon.One's founders reinvesting proceeds into Adyen shares. The deal closed on July 1, 2026.

partnership

Alaska Air Group and Bank of America extend Atmos Rewards card deal The companies are working toward Bank of America becoming the sole issuer of Atmos Rewards co-branded cards, under an extension of a partnership spanning more than 30 years.

platform

The Fresh Market relaunches loyalty program as TFM Rewards The relaunch introduces the grocer's first native mobile app and adds benefits including 5 percent off curbside orders and enhanced birthday rewards.

partnership

Sainsbury's Nectar adds Uber and Uber Eats as redemption options Nectar members can convert 500 to 4,000 points, worth £2.50 to £20, into Uber vouchers in the scheme's first ride-hailing partnership.

launch

SONIC launches SONIC Rewards loyalty program nationwide Members earn 10 points per dollar through the SONIC app and move across three tiers, with a welcome reward and an annual birthday reward from day one.
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