Asian airlines offer perks to keep elite flyers

Welcome onboard: A file picture showing a Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore from Jakarta. The status extensions given to elite frequent flyers come at relatively little cost given the potential future reward. — AFP

SYDNEY: From wellness workshops to dinner with a celebrity chef and flights to nowhere, Asia’s big international airlines are working hard to keep their most lucrative customers engaged as the pandemic-related travel halt stretches beyond 18 months.

While flights are starting to rebound in the United States and Europe, international travel is still down 96% in Asia due to tough travel restrictions, making it harder to maintain a relationship with grounded premium clients.