Want those extra airline miles? All you need to do is lock down your NFTs.
The flagship airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, today announced the expansion of its loyalty and rewards programs for their customers and NFT holders.
The airline teased the release of a new 300-issue expansion of its Polygon-based EY-ZERO1 NFT collection, which offers NFT holders the ability to stake or lock their digital assets in exchange for air miles.
This limited edition release marks the eleventh 3D aircraft model added to the EY-ZERO1 NFT collection, which first debuted in July 2022. The collection’s latest NFTs are intricately designed to mirror the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, decorated with branding of the latest addition to the Mission Impossible franchise “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.” This cinematic association adds a layer of allure to the digital collectibles, making them coveted acquisitions for aviation enthusiasts and cinephiles alike.
The original EY-ZERO1 collection offered holders a range of exclusive benefits, such as one year of Etihad Silver Tier status and access to a special event at the Yas Marina Circuit Formula 1 race.
However, the upcoming collection kicks the rewards up a notch.
Holders can count on Etihad Guest Silver Tier status for 12 months, priority check-in, a 25% boost in earning Etihad Guest Miles, lounge access at Abu Dhabi International Airport and membership of the Etihad: Virtual Club . They also receive a quick upgrade from Silver to Gold Tier status and a personalized Etihad membership card.
Horizon Club
In September, Etihad is about to unveil its Web3 loyalty program, aptly named “Horizon Club”. This program introduces a staking-for-miles feature, allowing the community to ‘lock’ their NFTs and earn Etihad Guest Miles in return. These miles can then be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades and other exclusive benefits.
This NFT expansion is a collaboration between Etihad Airways and Arcube, a company specializing in real-world asset tokenization, and Ethiad Airways’ new official Web3 partner. Holders can also transact using traditional credit cards or cryptocurrency, powered by infrastructure company Crossmint to ease the payment process.
Airlines fly to Web3
Etihad’s flight path to the Web3 domain is certainly indicative of a broader trend that we are starting to see emerging within the airline industry.
Argentine Flybondi
In March, Argentine low-cost carrier Flybondi partnered with NFT ticketing company TravelX to offer all of its tickets as NFTs on the Algorand blockchain.
Japanese All Nippon Airways
Japanese aviation giant All Nippon Airways (ANA) also entered the NFT market in June, unveiling a marketplace that included a metaverse travel experience that integrates passengers’ flight history with their digital avatar.
The Spanish Air Europa
Similarly, in April 2022, the Spanish Air Europa also partnered with TravelX and launched a series of NFT tickets linked to exclusive benefits and events.
What’s next?
Etihad Airways’ latest initiative is yet another case study for intentional applications of digital collectibles and blockchain technology that works to improve both the airline industry and its customers through an evolving loyalty and rewards program that prioritizes real-world experiences.