Verizon is catching up with competitors T-Mobile and AT&T this week with the debut of a new rewards program that offers customers flight discounts, VIP event tickets, and more to thank them for their patronage.
The new Verizon Up program is structured to reward customers based on payments made on their monthly wireless bills. For every $300 spent, customers will earn one credit that can be redeemed for one reward of their choice in Verizon’s lineup of six options. Those options will rotate each month, Verizon said.
“We spent a lot of time speaking to customers who were telling us they were frustrated with existing reward programs on the market,” Verizon CMO Diego Scotti said. “They didn’t want to spend time tracking or accumulating thousands of points in exchange for trivial items. They wanted rewards that have real value and were rooted in experiences. That’s how Verizon Up came to life. It’s digital only, simple to use, rewards are constant and relevant, and it connects you with brands and access to experiences you know and love.”
The carrier outlined four categories of rewards: Everyday Rewards offering free services and discounts to popular brands; Verizon Rewards that can be used to purchase devices and accessories; Super Tickets that offer access to sports, music and entertainment events; and Dream Tickets for access to “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences like the Super Bowl. Verizon said new rewards partners will be added monthly, and credits will be eligible for redemption 60 days (two months) after they are earned.
Current rewards include a free four months subscription to Apple Music for new users or an extra month for existing subscribers; 20 percent off a JetBlue flight and 1,000 TrueBlue loyalty points; and three months free on a subscription to HBO Now. Verizon is also offering a chance for customers to attend Lady Gaga’s sold out U.S. tour.
Verizon’s introduction of its loyalty rewards program comes more than a year after competitors AT&T and T-Mobile debuted their own offerings.
At the start of June 2016, AT&T rolled out its “Thanks” program, which offers consumers entertainment-focused rewards, “Ticket Tuesdays,” device and accessory perks, and data giveaways.
Just a few days later, T-Mobile launched its “T-Mobile Tuesdays” campaign, which offers customers the chance to win free prizes – including movie tickets, food, subscriptions, and more – each week.