Dubai: Priority Pass, the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program, has announced a major partnership with Vodafone Qatar, one of the leading telecommunications networks in the region.
Vodafone Qatar wanted to bring innovation to the market by offering its customers benefits they would not expect from their telecommunications provider. To deliver this to customers, Vodafone has partnered with Priority Pass due to its world leading lounge access program, brand strength and proven track record in the lifestyle enhancement market.
The Priority Pass lounge membership is now available to all Vodafone Qatar Red Postpaid customers, giving access to over 1,500+ VIP lounges across the globe, simply by showing their Priority Pass Membership card at participating lounges in airports in more than 100 countries.
The partnership sees Priority Pass further extend its reach into the Telecoms market, with Vodafone Qatar using Priority Pass as a key differentiator in its Red Postpaid proposition. The Telecoms market is one of the fiercest in terms of customer churn, with providers constantly vying to acquire and retain valuable customers. Priority Pass has been added across the Red portfolio in Qatar, providing all Red customers with a valuable benefit that is unique to the Telecoms sector in Qatar.
General Manager EMEA, Errol McGlothan said: “We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious brand as Vodafone Qatar to provide its Red Postpaid customers with airport VIP lounge access worldwide. Adding airport lounge benefits to a Telecoms proposition is unique in this region, and based on continuous research from millions of frequent travellers, we know that Vodafone’s Red customers are going to find real value in having access to these airport lounges.
“This exciting proposition is a real innovation in the Telecoms sector and will help Vodafone to deliver a relevant and aspirational package of lifestyle benefits to its customers. We look forward to Vodafone Red customers taking full advantage of the many benefits that Priority Pass can offer.”
Cindy Moussa, Marketing Director at Vodafone Qatar added: “Choosing the right partner for our Red proposition was crucial as we were undertaking substantial improvements to our overall customer value proposition, and knew we needed to ensure that we had the best offering for our valued customers. Working with Priority Pass will ensure our Red Postpaid customers have the opportunity to enjoy the full benefit of VIP airport lounge access from a trusted brand. Priority Pass was further able to meet our requirements for flexibility in the offering of tailored benefits to different members. We want our customers’ journeys to be as comfortable as possible, and our partnership with Priority Pass means they will enjoy the benefits of a prestigious brand and a global leader in the lifestyle enhancement sector.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Priority Pass
Priority Pass provides frequent travelers with airport lounge access, irrespective of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline loyalty program. Launched in 1992, Priority Pass now offers more than 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide in 600 cities in over 145 countries. Priority Pass is part of Priority Travel Group, a division of Collinson Group, specialising in the international travel clubs and services sector. For more information, visit www.prioritypass.com.
History
The first airport lounge was introduced in 1939 as ‘The Flagship Club’ at LaGuardia airport, born out of the American Airlines Admirals Club to recognise their most loyal travellers and as a privileged place for VIPs to relax before their flight. The launch of the airline hub and spoke system in the US during the 80’s and 90’s resulted in more and more passengers having to make connections in hub cities that added to the daily passenger traffic and time spent in airports do to connections. The change forced the airlines into adding new and expanding the size of existing lounges to deal with the added passenger traffic.
Frequent Flyer programs that began in the early 80’s grew in popularity and then began to diversify in the late 80’s and early 90’s to differentiate membership status levels depending on certain mileage thresholds and flight segments flown. Many of those that achieved the highest elite status were rewarded with lounge access as an additional benefit and lower elite members were rewarded with discounted airline lounge program membership fees. Starting in the early to mid-90’s US airlines finally began to change their mindset with regard to their lounge product simply being an exclusive club for their best customers to become more of a profit centre.
About Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C.
Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C. ("Vodafone Qatar") is the holder of the Second Public Mobile and Fixed Telecommunications Networks and Services License in the State of Qatar. Vodafone Qatar switched on its mobile network on 1 March 2009 and shortly after started delivering great value to its customers with a range of exciting products and services.
Having built a world class converged IP network, Vodafone launched fibre-based consumer and enterprise fixed-line services commercially in October 2012 and is expanding its fibre services in conjunction with Qnbn deployment of Fibre to Homes and Corporates.
Vodafone’s objective is to be one of the most admired brands in Qatar and the Company is committed to providing world class telecommunications infrastructure to support Qatar National Vision 2030. Please visit www.vodafone.qa for more details.
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