Russia’s flag carrier, Aeroflot, recently downgraded the value of its frequent flyer program, increasing some award costs by more than 400%. The airline made adjustments to the prices of its mileage awards silently earlier this month.
To brand the changes positively, the carrier said the adjustments would maintain the benefits of each member while increasing the availability of awards. The frequent flyer program price adjustments are the first time Aeroflot has increased award costs in 14 years.
Not-so-nice changes
Without notice, Aeroflot changed the award costs of its Bonus loyalty program on May 5th, according to One Mile At A Time. The airline said the adjustments will allow member perks to be continued along with more availability of the program’s awards, especially during peak travel seasons when demand is high.
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Although the changes may sound nice, others are alluding that the adjustments are the opposite and are ways for the airline to make more money. Unlike most airlines, Aeroflot does not have an award chart for its frequent flyer program but rather a mileage calculator. According to One Mile At A Time, the cost of premium cabin awards was noticeably higher, although the price increases were not the same universally.
Skyrocketing award costs
The awards of premium cabins on international flights increased exponentially, putting the devaluation of the program on display.
From Moscow to Turkey on a one-way flight, the cost was formerly 15,000 miles. Now, a member of the program must pay 60,000 miles. The change represents a 300% increase. 20,000 miles used to be the cost for a one-way business class flight from Moscow to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries of Russia. The cost was increased to 50,000 miles, indicating an increase of 150%. Frequent fliers used to give up 60,000 miles to travel from Moscow to the Maldives, but now the cost is 120,000 miles which is a 100% increase.
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Additionally, the awards have been adjusted to be charged per segment, whereas they used to be based on the origin and destination. The business class award flight from St. Petersburg to Istanbul via Moscow formerly cost 15,000 miles, but now it will cost frequent fliers 80,000 miles (60,000 miles one way and 20,000 miles one way), which is a cost increase of 433%, according to One Mile At A Time.
Decrease in demand
Aeroflot’s route network has been reduced due to the sanctions against Russian airlines after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last month, the airline resumed service to Dalaman, Turkey, with regular flights scheduled twice weekly on April 6th, then daily on April 27th.
However, several aircraft in Russia have been grounded since the sanctions were implemented. Simple Flying previously reported that the country’s largest cargo airline, AirBridgeCargo, was ordered by a US court to pay $400 million to its lessor after defaulting on leases.
Until now, Aeroflot had not made any changes to its loyalty program since 2009. The adjustments are likely a result of the decrease in demand.
Source: One Mile At A Time
