AI says that Flying Returns members can now collect 5 Points for every GBP 4 or EUR 4 spent at any of the Bicester Collection’s Villages in Europe
Air India, India’s largest international carrier, has announced a new partnership with the Bicester Collection, a global luxury shopping giant, for the airline’s recently redesigned Flying Returns loyalty programme.
In a press statement, Air India says that its new partnership will offer Flying Returns reward points on shopping and dining experiences at the Bicester Collection’s nine open-air luxury shopping villages in Western Europe.
AI says that Flying Returns members can now collect 5 Points for every GBP 4 or EUR 4 spent at any of the Bicester Collection’s Villages in Europe, located an hour or less from the major cities London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Dublin, Madrid and Barcelona.
The statement adds that to earn Reward Points, members need to present their Air India Flying Returns digital membership card along with their receipts at Concierge Services in the Villages.
The Bicester Collection’s Villages are home to a unique curation of iconic global and European fashion and lifestyle brands offering exceptional savings all year round, alongside five-star hospitality and services, making them havens for discerning travellers and shoppers alike.
Sunil Suresh
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our ongoing efforts to make the ‘reimagined’ Flying Returns a more robust and faster rewarding programme. Adding Bicester Collection to our rapidly growing network of ‘earn’ partners, we’re offering our loyal guests even more opportunities to accumulate points for the experiences they value,” says Sunil Suresh, Head of Marketing, Loyalty & E-commerce, Air India.
“The demand for luxury shopping among Indians continues to boom at record pace, with Indians now being counted amongst the highest spenders during their travels across the world. We are also equally excited to offer the benefits of this collaboration to our growing base of loyal guests across Europe, to whom we now offer many new ways of collecting Flying Returns points beyond just taking flights to and within India,” Suresh adds.
Laurent Vinay
“We are delighted to launch a partnership with Air India. We look forward to serving new guests from India with this collaboration. Indeed, this partnership will create new opportunities for customer acquisition for us both. Air India aims to provide unparalleled Indian hospitality and customised service and so shares Bicester Collection’s values of providing its clientele with an elevated experience: this partnership is based on a shared brand ethos,” says Laurent Vinay, Chief Brand and Communication Officer, Bicester Collection.
This announcement marks the latest step in the airline’s continuing effort to transform Flying Returns and comes as the airline enters a new phase of its ongoing five-year transformation journey, says the airline.
The statement adds that in April this year, Air India overhauled Flying Returns, introducing a simplified new structure, customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity for the programme.
It says that Flying Returns moves away from the legacy model of miles-based collection of points to a more equitable spend-based approach while offering members instant global status and privileges around the world.
“Air India is by far the most well connected carrier in India with flights to every European country where Bicester Collection has a village. And so together we can create wonderful experiences for our customers, making lasting and meaningful memories for all our guests,” Vinay adds.
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