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By Steve Brearton
Illustration: Seth
Flying high
For many frequent business travellers the only joy in flying is collecting frequent flyer rewards.
52,000 Figure in dollars Revenue Canada assessed as a taxable benefit for an executive who received free flights through employer-paid frequent flyer points in 1989 and 1990.
2,500 Estimated number of Canadian “millionairs,” those with a million or more air-loyalty points, in 1999.
1984 Year Air Canada and CP Air, the predecessor to Canadian, initiated their frequent flyer programs. American Airlines launched the first plan in 1981.
75 Percentage of business travellers, according to an International Airline Passengers Association survey, who choose flights based on the airline with which they have frequent flyer plans.
27 Number of months the average frequent flyer point is held before being redeemed; 20% to 30% of points are never used.
26 Dollar value of the first air tickets that arrived with an incentive program; in 1973, Southwest Airlines gave flyers a free bottle of Chivas Regal scotch with their tickets.
10-20 Percentage increase in business travel budgets in 1998, fuelled by points-seeking employees taking unnecessary trips or avoiding low-cost airlines without plans, according to US travel consultant Greg Moore.
14 Global accumulation of frequent flyer points in trillions at the end of 2004. Total value: US$700 billion.
9 Months an Air Canada check-in clerk was sentenced to jail in 2004 for fraudulently awarding himself and friends five million Aeroplan points.
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