Air France KLM launches frequent flyers networking website

A new website has been launched by Air France-KLM that alerts their frequent flyers of other subscribers who are on the same flight, displaying their names and their personal profiles.

The networking site suggests that members swap travel tips, such as favourite restaurants, and also to share taxis if they are headed for similar hotels or meeting venues.

A spokeswoman for the carrier noted that the website was launched to appeal to the “new generation of customers who use social networking technology and expect us to do the same.”

According to the spokeswoman, joining the site, bluenity.com, is optional and data is only shared with the consent of members. Anyone who is a member of Flying Blue, the airline’s frequent flyer program, is eligible to register, and will be shown whether other subscribers are scheduled to be on upcoming flights, or if they have posted suggestions or tips about destinations.

Tom Otley, who is the editor-in-chief of Business Traveller, has called the website “innovative,” but noted that it would not appeal to everyone.

“There will be some who couldn’t imagine anything worse than meeting other travellers, especially on a flight where you could be next to someone for hours,” he commented. “Others will embrace it as another important networking tool.”

Members can contact each other and if they so choose, can arrange to meet during the flight – or, alternatively, can ask that they not be disturbed.

The introduction of the social networking site is based on the success of other networking sites and travel information sites such as Tripadvisor, which encourages travellers to share opinions and advice, especially on hotels.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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