Summary
- Airlines like Brussels, Alaska, and Southwest offer points for carbon offsetting and use sustainable aviation fuels.
- Programs offer incentives like extra miles, elite-qualifying points, and bonus points to encourage sustainable practices.
- Carriers like Etihad and Singapore Airlines also reward passengers for eco-friendly actions like bringing less baggage.
Long before the notion of 'flight shame' affected air travel, many airlines had started their journeys towards sustainability. Some airlines supported the preservation of forests, while others were involved in replacing traditional jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuels.
Many airlines are also participating in carbon offset schemes, where passengers can pay to mitigate the carbon produced by their travel. Most reports suggest the take-up of such offers is rather low. However, some airlines also give passengers loyalty points for offsetting their carbon emissions, which can make the prospect more appealing.
Carbon Offsetting Vs Carbon Capture - What's The Difference?
The global aviation industry aims to achieve new-zero emissions by 2050.5 Brussels Airlines
'Green Fares' earn 10% - 20% more points and miles.
Brussels Airlines' Green Fares are a way to travel sustainably in Europe. The airline uses Sustainable Aviation Fuel on certain routes and contributes to carbon offset programs. The airline presents some numbers involved in its carbon offset programs:
- Intercontinental flights: 10% of emissions are reduced through the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), while the 90% remaining is offset through climate protection projects that the airline is involved in.
- Flights in Europe: 20% of emissions are reduced through the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), while the 80% remaining is offset through climate protection projects that the airline is involved in.
The airline offers points and miles for intercontinental Green Fares as well as European Green Fares. If you travel in Europe in Economy Green, you get an additional 20% points and qualifying points, alongside 20% extra miles. In the Business Green fares in Europe, there’s an additional perk of HON Circle Points. On Intercontinental flights, you get 10% more points and 10% more miles.
4 Alaska Airlines
500 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) per $100 spent on SAF.
Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, commented about the need for sustainable practices:
SAF is a critical part of aviation’s path to a more sustainable future, and while we use it today, there is not enough SAF available. It will take all of us to grow this market. The more people who know about and support this important technology, the better we can impact efforts to make a sustainable future for air travel a reality.
Alaska Airline's commitment to sustainable aviation practices is reflected in the points you can earn. Some important numbers involved in the Alaska Airlines' program that give you points for offsetting carbon emissions include:
- You can support SAF in an amount based on 5%, 10%, or 20% of your emissions when you book on the airline’s website.
- For every $100 spent on SAF, you’ll score 500 elite-qualifying miles (EQMs).
- You can earn up to 5,000 EQMs per year.
Only Plus Alaska Mileage Plan™ members can earn EMQs.
Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program: The Simple Flying Guide
The newest oneworld member has grown its reach significantly in recent years.3 Southwest Airlines
20 Rapid Rewards bonus points for every $1 spent on offsetting.
Southwest Airlines has plans for net-zero emissions by 2050. The airline's calculator allows you to estimate how much carbon is emitted from your trip. You can then purchase offsets to curb your emissions. Southwest lays out the details of the points and rewards involved:
- You'll earn 20 Rapid Rewards bonus points for every dollar ($1) you spend offsetting your emissions up to a maximum of 50,000 Rapid Rewards bonus.
- For every dollar ($1) you spend on offsets, we will contribute two dollars to the purchase of additional offsets to support global projects, and such additional offsets will be retired for Southwest.
Regarding some other charges that may be applicable, the airline comments:
Taxes and fees (except for the processing fee) will not be matched by Southwest or earn points. From 4/19 – 5/19, 2024 Rapid Rewards® Members can earn 20 Rapid Rewards bonus points per dollar spent on offsets up to a maximum of 50,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month. Points will only be awarded to the Member's Rapid Rewards account number entered at the time of the carbon offset transaction. Southwest's matching contribution will be used to purchase additional offsets to support global projects, and such additional offsets will be retired for Southwest.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: The Simple Flying Guide
While it might be low-cost, Southwest Rapid Rewards comes with a host of perks.2 Etihad Airways
Tier miles for sustainable purchases and bringing less baggage on board.
Etihad Airways has set a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Etihad also flies the Boeing 787 'Greenliner,' which researches and promotes sustainability in the aviation industry. As a part of this deal, Boeing and Etihad have:
“...collaborated on areas including inflight product, airspace management, flight deck tools, sustainable fuel, and even brought in expertise from NASA to look at noise levels created by aircraft as part of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme.”
Etihad Airways also has a “Conscious Choices” program, which allows travelers to earn a badge and receive Etihad Guest Tier Miles. These can be earned when you are involved in activities that cut down on your emissions through choices such as:
- Bringing less baggage on board: Carrying no baggage earns you a Lite Traveler Badge, hand baggage only earns you a Green Fare Badge, and carrying less than 15 kg of baggage earns you a Perfect Packer badge.
- Offsetting carbon from your car journeys helps you earn Tier Miles.
- Buying sustainable products at the reward shop
1 Singapore Airlines and Scoot
150 KrisFlyer miles for each dollar spent.
The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group also allows customers to offset their carbon emissions via dedicated portals. The program is on offer on both Singapore Airlines and Scoot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.
According to SIA, these programs involve "high-quality carbon offset projects [which] have a proven and measurable impact on communities and the environment.” Passengers can earn up to 150 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1.00 worth of carbon offset. The projects that help SIA to offset their carbon footprint are:
- The preservation of forests in Indonesia has prevented 7.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
- By replacing traditional wooden fire-based kitchens with stoves, over 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented in Nepal. Over 47,000 rural families in Nepal have received stoves.
- Supporting renewable solar energy projects in India has resulted in preventing 815,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Have you carbon offset any flights? Would getting points make you more inclined to do so in future? Let us know in the comments.