The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
This edition covers: AliExpress, AMC Entertainment, Apple Wallet, Astrotel, Badge, BonusQR, Card-Linked Offers, Chase, CLMP™, Coca-Cola, Coinbase, Festival Foods, Gen Z Loyalty, Hyperlayer, Loyalty Academy Brasil, Loyalty Juggernaut, Marriott Bonvoy, QBF Consulting, Retail MediaX, ShopBack, Southwest Airlines, Stable Kernel, Thunes, United Airlines, Velocity Frequent Flyer, Wildfire Systems
FROM THE EDITOR
Two of America’s biggest airline programs rewrote their playbooks this week, and the message to frequent flyers is clear: spending now matters more than seat time. This underscores one of our predictions delivered to the Cobrand & Travel 2026 event in NY recently.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards moves from two tiers to three on Jan. 1, 2027, retiring “A-List” for Silver, Gold and Platinum. The co-brand card becomes the fastest path to status, with a premium card and lounge access on the way.
- United drops Premier qualifying flights from MileagePlus status in 2027, making Premier qualifying points, earned by flying or spending on a United card, the currency of elite status.
- In Brazil, Loyalty Juggernaut and Loyalty Academy Brasil have partnered to bring the GRAVTY® platform and Loyalty Performance Management services to enterprise brands, pairing global technology with local market expertise.
- From Slovakia, we discovered BonusQR, an innovative platform that runs stamp cards, points and cashback with nothing more than a QR code: no POS integration, no extra hardware. More than 10,000 businesses in 40+ countries already use it.
- CLMP™ momentum continues around the world, with a new workshop in Dubai on 16-18 November.
Dig in for the full stories below, plus Short Takes covering Coca-Cola’s new UK loyalty program, Chase points for streaming subscriptions, and more.
Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor — The Wise Marketer
SHORT TAKES
- [PH] Hotelier Astrotel launches Galaxy Loyalty Card
- [UK] Digital wallet provider Hyperlayer lands £20m funding injection
- [UK] Coca-Cola launches new loyalty program with free rewards
- [US] Wisconsin Grocer Festival Foods Unveils “Festival Rewards”
- [US] Chase cardholders can redeem points to cover recurring charges from streaming subscriptions
- [US] Stable Kernel has been ranked the best CDP implementation agency for retail by InfluenceWire
- [US] Car Keys in Apple Wallet coming soon to three popular vehicle brands
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Announces Changes Beginning January 1, 2027
Southwest says it is changing the way travelers will earn, use, and benefit from Rapid Rewards®, with all the new features taking off January 1, 2027. The program will move from two tiers to three, with “A-List” nomenclature giving way to “Silver, Gold and Platinum.”
No surprise that the fastest path to achieve higher tier status is by using the Rapid Rewards co-brand credit card, where one tier qualifying point is earned for every dollar spent using the card. There’s also a premium card on the way, one that gives access to Southwest’s premium airport lounges. New Milestone rewards can lead to earning Companion Passes, and miles will be exchangeable for travel with international flight partners.
United Simplifying How You Earn MileagePlus® Premier® Status
United announced that starting January 1, you’ll reach status by earning Premier qualifying points (PQP) when you fly United®, United Express® or one of its Star Alliance™ partners, or spend with an eligible United card. United is removing Premier qualifying flights (PQF) requirements, but flyers still need to take at least four United or United Express flights in 2027.
In plain English, the airline dropped the ability to qualify for its elite status based on flight segments, making it all about dollars spent. Industry experts are asking if chasing premier status is still worth the effort.
BonusQR Introduces Redesigned Loyalty Platform
BonusQR, a QR-based loyalty platform from Slovakia, redesigned its customer app and dashboard and expanded its coupon management, points program and stamp-card module for cafes. More than 10,000 businesses in 40+ countries use the platform; registrations grew 400% in 2026.
BonusQR lets a business run a digital loyalty program — stamp cards, points, cashback or discounts — without a point-of-sale integration and without additional hardware.
Velocity is ShopBack’s First Aussie Airline Loyalty Program Partner
Velocity Frequent Flyer has become the first airline loyalty program to partner with ShopBack in Australia, giving shoppers a new way to turn everyday spending into flights. The partnership lets ShopBack members convert cashback into Velocity Points at a rate of $1 for 50 points, with no fees.
Members can turn cashback earned on groceries, fashion and food delivery into points for flights with Virgin Australia and its international partners, including Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
Celebrity Experiences and Loyalty Programs Are Becoming an Iconic Duo
Marriott and other hospitality chains are offering an increasing number of exclusive, out-of-the-box experiences to woo members these days. Usually attained as premium reward options or tier benefits, they promise money-can’t-buy access to some of the biggest names in entertainment and sport.
The Marriott Bonvoy Moments experience with American TV writer Phil Rosenthal kicked off poolside at the Orosea Autograph Collection hotel with a wine tasting that let guests discover local deep reds, crisp whites and fragrant rosés from across Paros’s low lying and mountainous vineyards. Many more examples here.
Loyalty Juggernaut and Loyalty Academy Brasil Bring Advanced Loyalty Technology and Performance Management to Brazil
Loyalty Juggernaut, Inc., a leading and fast-growing enterprise loyalty technology company, today announced a partnership with Loyalty Academy Brasil to bring world-class loyalty technology and Loyalty Performance Management (LPM) services to enterprise brands across Brazil.
The partnership combines Loyalty Juggernaut’s GRAVTY® platform and global experience with Loyalty Academy Brasil’s industry expertise and local market knowledge to expand the strategic and financial contribution of loyalty across the enterprise.
AMC Entertainment Holdings Has Launched AMC Movie Trivia Game Show
The free mobile trivia app, created with Hoyt Games and puzzle designer David L. Hoyt, features daily movie-themed puzzles and AMC Stubs integration. The app shifts part of AMC Entertainment Holdings’ customer interaction into mobile gaming and extends the loyalty program into everyday engagement beyond theater visits.
The next point of consideration is how AMC Entertainment Holdings’ investment narrative might be influenced by this new trivia app and loyalty integration.
Gen Z Needs Brands To Go the Extra Mile To Earn Loyalty
This article illustrates the challenges in engaging tech savvy Gen Z. They may be tech savvy and used to being influenced by social media accounts, but brands should not underestimate this generation’s desire to earn trust before they part with their money.
Andrew Gosselin, a certified public accountant at Save My Cent, commented “Brands shouldn’t assume this audience only wants the lowest price. They’ll pay more when quality or convenience is clear, but they’re more likely to test the claim before they believe it.”
AliExpress (China) Launches Elite — Its Free Membership Program
The international online retail marketplace has launched Elite — its new membership program, rewarding its most loyal shoppers with exclusive discounts and dedicated customer service. The invitation-only membership is completely free and will automatically apply to eligible customers who spent more than $800 (or the equivalent amount in local currency) and placed orders on at least 5 days in the past year.
Elite is now live in-app for eligible members across a number of European markets, including Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands.
Thunes and Coinbase Join Forces to Drive Next Generation Global Payments
Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, and Coinbase announced a strategic collaboration to drive the next generation of global payments. The partnership kicks off a unified infrastructure that empowers both companies to scale and deliver frictionless payment experiences globally.
Under the agreement, Coinbase will integrate Thunes’ Direct Global Network into its platform, creating direct payout access to local clearing systems and alternative payment methods. Thunes will provide real-time, ‘last-mile’ delivery to billions of mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, allowing Coinbase customers to send funds across more countries and currencies, including hard-to-reach regions with limited banking infrastructure.
Wildfire and Badge Partner to Bring Personalized Merchant Offers and Rewards to Mobile Wallets
Wildfire Systems, a loyalty and consumer insights platform, and Badge, a mobile wallet infrastructure provider, announced a strategic partnership that brings personalized merchant offers and rewards into consumers’ native mobile wallets, making savings easier to find and use and creating new value for the programs that offer them.
Wildfire clients can now extend their existing rewards programs into Apple® Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet through Badge’s technology, while Badge clients gain access to the offers from Wildfire’s network of more than 50,000 merchant programs.
As Rewards Programs Face Pressure, Card-Linked Offers Gain Ground
Pressure on interchange fees has prompted credit card issuers to seek new ways to structure and fund rewards programs. Card-linked offers (CLO) are emerging as one solution, allowing issuers to drive loyalty without relying solely on interchange-funded points and miles.
Card-Linked Offers: Keep Rewarding Consumers, but Shift the Narrative, a paid report from Javelin Strategy & Research, examines how and why card companies are embracing this strategy.
LOYALTY ACADEMY ANNOUNCES UPDATED CLMP™ COURSES
The Loyalty Academy has refreshed its CLMP™ courses, with online, in-person and mobile learning options, so you can earn the credential on your own schedule and at your own pace. The on-demand CLMP™ Program delivers 14 rebuilt courses in a mobile-first format, built by practitioners and backed by academic rigor, not borrowed ideas. Ten years in, the industry’s first loyalty certification still sets the standard. Start your learning journey today at loyaltyacademy.org/clmp-on-demand/
CLMP™ TRAINING SPOTLIGHT — DUBAI
New CLMP™ Workshop Announced in Dubai on 16-18 November
QBF Consulting, a certified training partner with The Loyalty Academy, is bringing the Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional™ (CLMP™) workshop to Dubai on November 16-18. The credential program equips practitioners to design and lead customer loyalty strategies across B2C and B2B markets. The three-day, in-person session delivers the full CLMP™ curriculum.
Retail MediaX Lands in New York on November 12
Retail media is moving fast, and the questions are getting bigger. After two sell-out years in Europe, the first U.S. edition of Retail MediaX is coming soon to provide answers to those tough questions.
This event brings the people working through those challenges together for one focused day. Hear from leaders at Google, DoorDash, Kroger Precision Marketing, Mars, LVMH, Estée Lauder, Danone and more. The event is free to attend for brands, retailers and CPG.
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