http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=11088
Aer Lingus to axe free flights perk
ONE of the last perks of Aer Lingus is going. The company's TAB points system which allowed frequent flyers to build up points on journeys allowing them to claim free flights is being done away with.
From August 31 the accrual of TAB points will be restricted to members of the Gold Circle club only - whose members are the most frequent flyers building up the equivalent of 3,500 TAB points in a year.
This means that only those who fly very regularly will reach this target when you consider that there are a maximum of 165 TAB points on a Dublin to Brussels economy flight and a maximum of 500 on Dublin to New York economy.
According to Aer Lingus, from October 31 under its frequent flyer programme the TAB level will be discontinued. The company says people's TAB account balance must be redeemed by October 31. Any TAB points not used by this date will be eliminated, according to the company.
A letter sent out to all frequent flyers from the company's head of customer relations, Louis Harte, this week stated that the company had reduced fares, many by over 60pc, and had introduced 28 new routes to key European destinations with more planned.
Kathy Donaghy