As CEO of Smiles, my mission is to offer Argentinians the best ally so that they can carry out their next trip over time in the simplest, most straightforward and most organized way. This year we have noticed a change in the behavior of travelers and unlike other times, today long-term planning has established itself as a new trend. For this reason, we strive to offer our customers the best solutions so that they can make their next trip successful, as we always adapt to changing circumstances.
I am convinced that traveling changes us. It allows us to expand our personal boundaries, develop our empathy and tolerance, and solidify our view of unity across cultures, with endless benefits for our mental and physical health.
With the arrival of Smiles in Argentina, we have sparked a real revolution and democratization in the way people can plan their next trip. We are here to offer Argentinians an ecosystem of opportunities that did not exist before, so they can tailor their next trip to their economy.
Any change in consumption habits requires learning, persistence and understanding. That’s why we want to continue educating people to change the way they plan their travel based on miles and live a “travel mode” lifestyle, because at Smiles, the journey begins when you first earn miles.
The program works like this: Customers register for free via Smiles’ website using their ID and start earning miles, which they can exchange for tickets. The paradigm shift we are making is to offer our customers an ecosystem of products so that every month they can experience the feeling of well-being that they can get closer to their dream trip without any impact on their finances. This is our main difference: the ability to pay for the trip month by month, tailored to the current economic situation, and to be able to organize it comfortably, easily and without any problems in the long term.
Thanks to our flagship product, Viaje Fácil, travelers can reserve their tickets up to 11 months in advance, freeze the value of the ticket and pay for it only with miles or with miles and pesos or dollars up to 60 days before travel, without having to have the required miles or money for exchange at the time of purchase. Only the cost of the service and the fees and taxes corresponding to the flight ticket are paid.
A big advantage is that customers can put together their own payment plan for their flight tickets almost a year in advance. In addition, if the trip is canceled, only the cost of the service will be lost, as the fees and taxes will be refunded to the credit card, debit card or cash account used to pay for the ticket.
On the other hand, in addition to the options to customize your installment payments, Smiles offers an ecosystem of possibilities, including: monthly club for earning miles (Club Smiles), purchasing miles, accumulating with banks and credit cards, and transferring miles between customers.
All products are 100% developed and adapted for the Argentine market.
At the end of a new year, I am even more convinced of the social revolution that Smiles is unleashing so that more and more Argentines can plan their next trip. This change is reflected in our active customer base of 30%, of which 8 out of 10 choose to pay for their tickets with miles through our alliances, including the 14 affiliated banks and the more than 50 airlines that fly to more than 1,200 destinations around the world.
Here’s to a new year with more travel and enriching experiences!
We would like to get to know you!
Register for free at El Cronista for an experience tailored to you.
About The Author
