Travelocity launches customer loyalty program

Travel Web site Travelocity has launched a customer loyalty program, the first from an online travel site, according to the company.

The program is called VIP and offers a dedicated customer service line, advance notice of sales and special VIP-only promotions, airport shuttle and car rental discounts and everyday exclusive discounts on hotels and vacation packages. In addition, VIP members will earn more Travelocity Points on their purchases, including three points for every $1 spent on flight & hotel packages, flights, hotels and last minute packages when they apply and are approved for the Travelocity MasterCard.

Customers need five qualified bookings in a 12-month period to become a VIP. Anyone who makes the qualified bookings automatically becomes a VIP with no sign-up or initiation fees required. Since some reservations may count as two or three qualified bookings, it could take as little as two transactions to become a VIP, according to Travelocity, Southlake, TX.

Travelocity tested the program prior to launching and a recent survey of members showed that the test group scored significantly higher than the control group in the "highly satisfied" category.