Norwegian Announces “Limited Edition Rewards” For Frequent Fliers…But Are They Any Good?

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Norwegian Air Shuttle (to give the airline is full name) already has a loyalty program called “Norwegian Reward” but, for most of us, this isn’t a particularly interesting scheme as it doesn’t allow for any outsized rewards (you’re not going to be flying in a luxury First Class cabin anytime soon thanks to your earnings from Norwegian).

Now, however, the airline is saying that it will be offering some flyers a free roundtrip flight in 2018 and some a free upgrade to the airline’s premium cabin.

What Is Norwegian Offering?

Free roundtrip travel for some:

Norwegian Reward members who fly at least 20 round trips (or 40 one way flights) and have at least 3,000 Norwegian CashPoints earned from flights by 31 December 2017 will receive a free return flight to any one of Norwegian’s long-haul destinations.

The free flights are redeemable throughout 2018 with the exception of a few blackout periods which some will find restrictive.

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Free upgrades to Norwegian’s Premium Cabin:

Norwegian is also offering members who fly at least 10 round trips (or 20 one way flights) on flexible tickets during 2017 a free upgrade to its Premium Cabin on any long-haul route the airline flys.

Norwegian Reward members who meet the above criteria will be able to purchase the cheapest fare Economy Class fares for long-haul travel and have that fare upgraded to the Premium cabin free of charge.

Upgrades can be taken on any long haul flight operated by Norwegian throughout 2018 except for flights during the blackout periods listed below.

Blackout Periods:

  • 1 January to 15 January 2018
  • 21 March to 3 April 2018 (Easter)
  • 15 June to 26 August 2018 (Summer vacations)
  • 14 December to 31 December 2018 (Christmas & New Year)

Terms & Conditions:

  • The free ticket is personal and may only be used by the Reward member/customer who earned it.
  • The ticket is a round trip LowFare+ ticket to any of Norwegian’s destinations and includes seat reservation and luggage. Meals are also included on long haul flights.
  • The ticket follows the same fee, change and cancellation restrictions as ordinary LowFare tickets.
  • The trip must start and end at the same airport in the country in which the member resides.
  • Free tickets must be booked by 31 January 2018.
  • Free upgrades must be booked by 31 January 2018.

How Can You Track Your Progress & Book?

Tracking

This is what Norwegian has to say about tracking your progress towards one or both of the awards:

Members who are about to qualify can follow their progress in My Account after 1 July.

If you have a flight history that indicates that you will qualify for a free long haul ticket, we will also send you emails periodically with promotion updates including your progress.

If you have a flight history that indicates that you will qualify [for a free upgrade], we will also send you emails periodically with promotion updates including your progress.

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Booking A Free Ticket

After qualifying for a ticket, you will receive an email in January 2018 with details on how to redeem your ticket. You will also receive an SMS if your phone number is registered on your Norwegian Reward profile. The ticket must be booked by 31 January 2018. If you qualify for a ticket and have not heard from us by 15 January 2018, please send us an email through our contact form on our website so we have time to assist you before the booking deadline. Remember to also check your spam filter if you have not received the email.

If you do not book your free long haul ticket by the deadline of 31 January 2018, you will no longer be able to redeem it.

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Booking a Free Upgrade

After qualifying for an upgrade, you will receive an email in January 2018 with details on how to book your ticket and redeem your free upgrade. You will also receive an SMS if your phone number is registered on your Norwegian Reward profile.

The upgrade must be booked by 31 January 2018. If you qualify for an upgrade and have not heard from us by 15 January 2018, please send us an email through our contact form on our website so we have time to assist you before the booking deadline. Remember to also check your spam filter if you have not received the email.

If you do not book the free upgrade by the deadline of 31 January 2018, you will no longer be able to redeem it.

Thoughts

Positives:

  • It’s always good to see a carrier looking to reward its frequent fliers.
  • The Premium Cabin upgrade can be used on the cheapest fares
  • Seat reservations, luggage and meals are all included in the free flight

Negatives:

  • There rewards will only be attainable for the most frequent of flyers (probably those flying on business) so this doesn’t add any real interest for leisure travelers
  • The window to book a free flight or free upgrade would appear to be less than a month – that’s unreasonably restrictive.
  • The blackout dates cover some major events in the year and include the summer school vacations – another unreasonably restrictive condition.
  • Why announce this with just 6 months of the year remaining?

While I don’t like criticising an airline when it brings out an offer of “free stuff” I can’t help but wonder who Norwegian is aiming this promotion at.

The only people who are likely to hit the targets set either of the rewards are those flying for business….. and those are the very people who, generally speaking, don’t book flights very far in advance.

So what’s with the ultra restrictive “must book by 31 January 2018” condition?

The upgrade or free flight won’t be bookable until January 2018 but, if you don’t book by the end of January 2018 you lose the reward – how is that a good way to treat flyers who have done so much flying on Norwegian in 2017 and who have almost certainly spent a LOT of money with the airline in the process (10 roundtrip fares on flexible tickets isn’t going to be cheap!).

Add into that the fact that leisure travelers are being offered nothing new or extra and I really can’t get excited about these new “rewards.

Full details of the Limited Edition Rewards can be found via this link.