AIR MILES has launched a new Flights booking platform designed to make it simpler for Canadian travellers to book travel.

“It’s really to introduce a new Flights program that allows Canadians to be in control of their flight experience. They can choose the airline, choose the class of travel they want to take, where they want to depart from virtually anywhere around the world and even how they pay,” explains Rachel MacQueen, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Collector Experience, LoyaltyOne/AIR MILES Reward Program.

The new platform has increased functionality, improved flight booking options, greater fare transparency with prices showcasing if checked baggage is included and market based pricing.

Best of all, collectors will be able to “double dip” and earn airline loyalty rewards on top of AIR MILES Reward Miles on eligible fares.

“It’s a simple, intuitive, valuable experience when you are booking flights with AIR MILES,” she says. “Collectors told us ‘I want to see what fights are available in the market’ and ‘I want to see transparency in your pricing — how much is it going to cost me to pay with my credit card and get miles on that booking, and how many miles is it going to take if I want to use miles to make the redemption.”

MacQueen says 70% of AIR MILES collectors have expressed a desire to return to travel, and the desire to travel remains the No. 1 reason why people join the program.

With the new platform, there are more booking fees for tickets purchased by credit card. AIR MILES added more airline reward partners including Air Transat, Emirates, Etihad, Icelandair and Qatar Airways, joining longstanding partners like Air Canada, Porter Airlines and WestJet.

“It’s very user friendly, very intuitive,” adds Thomas Rummel, Vice President, Travel Rewards at LoyaltyOne/AIR MILES Reward Program. “You can make a redemption booking and a credit card booking within the same transaction so if you have enough Dream Miles for one ticket but there are three or four of you travelling, you can do it all in the same transaction.”

It’s also more convenient because flights no longer have to originate from within Canada.

“Everything from Economy, Premium, Business to First Class is available,” he notes. “Also, complexities with airfares these days with what’s included, what’s not included, especially when it comes to checked baggage can be quite confusing so we’re calling it out during the booking process. If a fare doesn’t include baggage, we will tell you at the time of booking so you are aware.”

To learn more about the new AIR MILES Flights platform and booking incentives, visit airmiles.ca/flights.