Copa ConnectMiles Plan: Subscribe To Buy Miles For 12 Months

Copa ConnectMiles Plan: Subscribe To Buy Miles For 12 Months

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In 2015, Panama based Copa Airlines formed their own frequent flyer program, called ConnectMiles. Previously they used United MileagePlus as their frequent flyer program, given their history with Continental which dates back many years.

Even though they formed their own program, in many ways ConnectMiles is still similar to MileagePlus, and I feel like we haven’t seen too much innovation from them. They’ve tried to sell miles at a discount, though they certainly haven’t offered any promotion that I’d consider to be lucrative enough to actually bite.

Yesterday I received an email regarding Copa ConnectMiles Plan, which is an innovative new concept from Copa.

Here’s how Copa describes ConnectMiles Plan:

Introducing ConnectMiles Plan, a new way to get more miles and take the trip of your dreams – for less. Sign up to purchase a set amount of miles each month at a discount. Before you know it, you’ll have the miles you need to take your next vacation.

Okay, I’m sort of digging this concept, for the novelty if nothing else. We see airlines offering bonuses on purchased miles all the time, so why not make it a monthly subscription?

With this plan you receive a certain number of miles every month, and then you receive a further quarterly bonus. Copa suggests this also helps keep miles active and alive, which is certainly true. The issue is with the pricing.

Here are the options for Copa’s ConnectMiles Plan:

Let’s look at the cost you’re paying per mile by plan:

  • 15K Plan: 2.24 cents per mile
  • 24K Plan: 2.25 cents per mile
  • 32K Plan: 2.25 cents per mile
  • 72K Plan: 2.2 cents per mile
  • 120K Plan: 2.2 cents per mile

As you can see, no matter which quantity you choose, you’ll be paying about 2.2 cents per mile. That’s not a good price for buying miles, at all.

When I first saw the idea behind this promotion I was excited and thought they were smartly targeting the mileage-obsessed folks out there. When you think about it, it’s smart for an airline to sell you miles that they deposit into your account over time. During promotions, many people buy exactly the number of miles they need for an award, and then redeem them right away. A program can still make money that way, but they’d much rather you’re not using your miles quite that efficiently. Presumably a program’s redemption costs go down significantly if they’re awarding you miles over time, and therefore they should be offering a discount.

That’s not what Copa is doing, though. Instead Copa seems to be going after the crowd that loves financing everything, and views this as an opportunity to buy 120,000 miles for $220 per month, without actually crunching the numbers. There’s simply no reason to pay $2,640 for the privilege of having 120,000 miles deposited in your account over the next 12 months, when we have no clue what kind of changes they’ll make to the program over that time.

So I say it’s a creative concept, but not at all compelling. I’d love to see other programs offer something like this, though the pricing model will have to be improved significantly.

What do you make of Copa’s ConnectMiles Plan?

Conversations (8)
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  1. Hector Guest

    I have tried to enroll in this program but I guess they no longer have it

  2. MikeH71 Guest

    Unlike Copa Gol Smiles also offers 1 status mile for every 10 miles bought on their mileage plans in addition this 1/10 rule on hotels and rental cars booked via the smiles app.

  3. glenn t Diamond

    In a world of instant gratification I cannot see much appeal in this concept, especially given the risks of T&C changes at any time. Maybe at 1.5 cpm it may be interesting to add to one's miles stash.

  4. William Guest

    Not innovative at all.
    Azul Airlines
    Latam Brazil
    Gol Airlines
    All have all made what they call "Club" for years now. The difference is that they have a much better conditions than Copa.

  5. Miz Guest

    You think this is novelty because of you are not familiar with airline loyalty industry in Central and South America. What Copa is doing is a late coming copy of what Gol Smiles has done for a long time.

  6. TR New Member

    LOL when they could just save $220 per month and have $2640 saved up for a vacation. Open a dang savings account, people!

  7. Luke Guest

    Latin America loves monthly financing options, even though the final price of the product is usually double, thanks to interest and fees. This is a great idea for the region that Copa serves, and will help many ‘save up’ for that much desired yearly vacay.

  8. Guilherme Guest

    This is what the frequent flyer programs have been doing in Brazil for a long time. They basically copy from Gol-Smiles.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Hector Guest

I have tried to enroll in this program but I guess they no longer have it

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MikeH71 Guest

Unlike Copa Gol Smiles also offers 1 status mile for every 10 miles bought on their mileage plans in addition this 1/10 rule on hotels and rental cars booked via the smiles app.

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glenn t Diamond

In a world of instant gratification I cannot see much appeal in this concept, especially given the risks of T&C changes at any time. Maybe at 1.5 cpm it may be interesting to add to one's miles stash.

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