La in-flight connectivity as a sales argument to boost loyalty programmes ? This is the credo adopted by a growing number of transport operators. Etihad has also taken the plunge, following in the footsteps of Turkish Airlines a few days earlier. It will now be possible to communicate free of charge in-flight via the messaging applications used daily by travellers on the ground: WhatsApp, Messenger and WeChat. The new Chat" package is designed for this purpose. And while it is marketed by Etihad through two tariffs - 2.99 $ for flights of less than 7 hours, and 4.99 $ beyond that - passengers can access it free of charge thanks to Etihad Guest. The company's loyalty programme gives access to this new Chat package. " We know how important it is for our customers to stay connected, which is why we are delighted to introduce an additional benefit for Etihad Guest members and invite everyone to register before they fly to take advantage of this benefit immediately "says Antonoaldo Neves, Managing Director of Etihad Airways.
For business travellers whose connectivity needs cannot be limited to this minimum service, Etihad has introduced the Surf package. It covers unlimited data for the duration of the flight. The Surf offer is priced at 9.99 $ for flights of less than 7 hours, and 19.99 $ for flights of more than 7 hours. However, members of the Platinum and Exclusive levels of the Etihad Guest programme will be offered this unlimited package free of charge. The same applies to First Class passengers. In addition, Etihad Guest Gold members will benefit from a discount (-25 %).
"Surf' is also the name chosen by Air France for one of its three wi-fi packages. The French airline, for its part, has decided to offer free access to messaging services from 2018, with no conditions attached to the frequent flyer programme.
