One of the most talked about changes a few months ago was the move of JetPrivilege to being a pseudo-revenue based program. As a part of the move to Fare Choices, upgrades and excess baggage were two privileges where restrictions were imposed, along with lounge access. If you bought a Deal ticket, you could not upgrade it or get excess baggage allowance. Period! I could understand the part about not offering lounge access as it is cash out of pocket, but upgrades and bags are just stuff under the airlines control, and could be done.
Seems Jet Airways got quite some backlash from Platinum members for doing this. Being the top-end member of any frequent flyer program means you fly the airline, a lot! And I would assume this did not go down well with them. Over the weekend, the airline quietly reintroduced certain privileges and sent out an email about this to members. Here is the key portion:
Exclusively for our Platinum members, for travel effective 26th November 2016 in Economy ‘Deal Fare Choices’ within the Indian Sub-continent* the following benefits will be available:
• Use JPMiles to upgrade to Premiere
• Use vouchers to upgrade to Premiere
• Enjoy 15kgs excess baggage allowance
This means, going forward, Platinum members can expect the following benefits on all domestic flights as well as those to Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Waiver on Seat Select Charges
- 15 Kgs Checked Bag Allowance
- Upgrades using miles or vouchers for Platinum members only.
I’d still like the airline to take a view that Platinum vouchers at least work for anyone in the family and not just the member itself. But I can’t fault them much given how Air India moved in a non-transferable direction with their vouchers last year.
The changes have been reflected on the website as well for the airline.
Bottomline
I think this is a step in the right direction for Jet Airways and Jet Privilege. I haven’t still left the Jet Airways fold, but I do hope that they won’t give me a reason to look out anytime soon and keep the privileges coming back.
Readers, what else would you like to see back into the JetPrivilege program?
Join over 5000 people who check-in daily to find out about the best in travel.
Free emails (once-a-day) | RSS Feeds | Facebook Updates | Twitter | Instagram
Great news about the ‘roll back’ for some privileges of Platinum members. Being one of the most effected by Baggage restrictions I have recently shifted, reluctantly to Air India.
Now can shift back to Jet. All other services are great.
Jet Airways Loyalty programme sucks..!! There are no enough opportunities to burn the miles. Don’t know why they cant re introduce JP mile upgrades for non elite members on all revenue tickets.
The worst condition is when you cancel a partner award , you get no miles refund. They should charge some miles penalty and refund the miles. I think AA and Delta are following this policy.
And once Vistara comes with more flights flyers will switch loyalty.
Dear Ajay,
As I mentioned earlier, deal fare is available to all booking early and not because of any FAVOUR from Jet Airways.
Hence lounge withdrawal & reduction in point earning is OK but should not withdraw the upgrade against points or voucher even to non platinum members also because that is already earned by the flyer.
Have been using jet credit cards for years. Pay almost 25k annual fees for various jet cards. But never in years i got a single upgrade.
Flew vistara thrice. Just got their one card for 10k . Got 3 upgrade vouchers, gold membership and better earning opportunities. More baggage allowance and priority tagging.
Jet messed its loyalty and credit card program big time.
Agreed. My physical membership card was not delivered 5 months ago & had to escalate it all the way to Appellate Authority last month. Funny thing, it’s still not delivered. My bonus reward points (5 months ago) are still not credited & my complimentary base fare ticket code doesn’t let me book. Their basics are screwed up.
Jet previlage has lost its shine long ago in tune with the fall in standards of service and food. I hold a platinum card for the last three consecutive years. I do not find any preference or better treatment from a non card member. I am a card holder since almost the inception of the card service and was holding gold and platinum for a major part of the time. The status I had when I had the silver card is not seen even in the platinum card membership. Yes, jet is now in tune with the card member treatment of Air India in olden days. Air India will not even have a record of the frequent flier holders listwith them . I still find Emirates loyalty programme more passenger friendly for variou reasons.
@UKK Menon, Emirates has a better soft factor loyalty program, but not applicable for those who largely travel inside india, domestically.