世論 What Japan Thinks

Having just got my gold status with Flying Blue and enough points banked for business class to Europe and back – that’s a really poor introduction and sounds just like the boasting that it is! Anyway, today’s survey is from MyVoice, looking at usage of airline mileage services.

Demographics

Over the first five days of October 2008 14,650 members of the MyVoice internet community completed a private online questionnaire. 54% of the sample were female, 1% in their teens, 14% in their twenties, 37% in their thirties, 30% in their forties, and 18% aged fifty or older.

I think KLM are a very good airline, but their Flying Blue partner Air France were a bit iffy the one time I flew cattle class with them, but the main drawback with them is that their trans-Pacific partner is NorthWest. They charge $5 for a drink in economy, yet when I got to my destination in Boston last month I could get a pint of fresh draft at a rather posh hotel for just $4.50. They did upgrade me to business class on the way back, however, which was nice.

I’ve twice used saved ANA points; the first was on magnet pillows – the wife bought them! Next was on a pair of his and her watches that have performed rather well, considering.

Research results

Q1: Do you participate in any airline mileage programs? (Sample size=14,650)

Yes	37.3%
No	55.1%
Don’t know there are mileage programs	7.7%

Q2: In which programs do you have saved-up miles? (Sample size=mileage participants, multiple answer)

ANA Mileage Club	73.4%
JAL Mileage Bank	68.4%
World Perks	14.5%
Mileage Plus	6.6%
Sky Pass	2.2%
Aadvantage	2.2%
One Pass Mileage Program	1.7%
Asia Miles	1.4%
Miles & More	1.1%
Flying Blue	1.0%
Asiana Club	0.9%
Chris Flyer	0.7%
Qantas Frequent Flyer	0.6%
Sky Miles	0.6%
Dynasty Flyer Program	0.5%
Millemiglia	0.4%
Royal Orchid Plus	0.4%
Aero Plus	0.3%
Executive Club	0.3%
Aeroflot Bonus	0.3%
Phoenix Mile Air China Companion	0.2%
Finnair Plus	0.2%
Flying Club	0.2%
Egyptair Plus	0.1%
Air Points	0.1%
Other	2.0%
No answer	0.3%

Q3: How do you accumulate miles? (Sample size=mileage participants, multiple answer)

Purchasing flight tickets	82.2%
Credit card	32.7%
Electronic money	26.8%
Point exchange	25.9%
Using partner tours	19.5%
Using partner hotels	15.3%
Car rental, airport facilities, services, etc	10.4%
Dining	6.1%
Department store, mail order, gifts	6.0%
Books, magazines, newspapers	5.3%
Computer, data transmission, electricals	4.3%
DVD, CD	3.7%
Fashion	3.4%
Hobby, sport	2.5%
Beauty, health	1.9%
Living	1.0%
Education, qualifications	0.7%
Business	0.7%
Other	2.9%
No answer	0.7%

Q4: In which way do you accumulate miles? (Sample size=mileage participants)

Almost exclusively from airline tickets	47.5%
Mostly from airline tickets	17.0%
Mostly from other services	15.5%
Almost exclusively from other services	11.5%
Hardly save any points at all	7.4%
No answer	1.0%

Q5: Have you ever used your saved points? (Sample size=mileage participants)

Yes	51.7%
No	46.9%
No answer	1.4%

Q6: What did you use your mileage points for? (Sample size=those who have used mileage points, multiple answer)

For card issuer’s airline tickets	66.8%
For electronic money	22.7%
For partner company’s goods, services	20.4%
For coupon (ticket, tour discounts, etc)	18.6%
For card issuer’s seat upgrade	11.8%
For partner airline’s tickets	8.8%
Other	1.9%
No answer	0.2%