Gulf Air celebrates its 55th birthday

For a 55 day period from today till the 30th of April, members of the Gulf Air Frequent flyer programme, travelling in either First or Business Class, will receive five times the normal number of Bonus miles.

This move follows a number of other recent enhancements, which further increase its popularity and strengthen the scheme's position as one of the foremost airline loyalty programmes in the Middle East region.

Says Louise Robertson, Gulf Air's Manager, 'Loyalty Programmes, full fare First Class and business class passengers will receive a 1000 and 500 per cent bonus respectively if they book and travel during a 55 day period from today till the 30th of April'.

'Gulf Air officially celebrates being 55 on 24 March, but as this is such a landmark birthday we wanted to share the occasion with our loyal customers over a longer period. As a result business class flight from Bahrain to London will earn a total of 37,848 miles - immediately enough for a free trip to either Istanbul Cairo, or Athens. The same trip in first class will award you 69,388 miles - enough for a free return economy class trip to one of 6 exotic Far East destinations. And members have 10 years in which to use their accumulated miles.

'We believe this is the most generous bonus mile offer ever made by any airline and isn't just open to existing members. Anyone joining at the time of travel will also be eligible.'

Robertson adds that the popularity of the Gulf Air Frequent flyer programme had reached exceptional levels - even before this initiative was launched.

'When the Gulf Air Frequent flyer programme was re-launched as part of Gulf Air's new brand identity in spring of 2003, we took the opportunity to upgrade the scheme to make it one of the most attractive loyalty programmes in the airline world,' says Robertson. 'As part of our ongoing effort to make the Frequent flyer programme the most valuable and rewarding of its kind, we are continually refining it or putting together innovative promotions such as this one. As a result applications for membership are growing at an unprecedented rate.'

Ms Robertson also announced that Gulf Air has introduced a Gold Service Desk, where dedicated staff provide priority responses to Gold Member enquiries via telephone, postal mail or e-mail.