Vistara unveils upgrade programme with Plusgrade to benefit passengers; check features

New Delhi: In a bid to drive sales on unsold premium, economy and business class seats, Indian carrier Vistara on Tuesday (August 25) launched a new upgrade programme in partnership with Plusgrade--a leader in ancillary revenue and merchandising solutions for over 70 airline and cruise operators.

Plusgrade announced that they’re powering the new Vistara upgrade program, Vistara Upgrades. With business travel expected to take longer to bounce back, and leisure travel becoming the clear recovery driver, Vistara’s new upgrade program aims to leverage the higher capacity in superior cabins as an added benefit to their passenger experience, an official statement said.

Under Vistara’s upgrade programme, passengers can select whether to upgrade from economy to premium economy or business class through an online portal.

Travelers will be able to take advantage of Plusgrade’s full suite of offer submission options. They can also bid for upgrades, instant upgrades, and eligible passengers will be alerted of the opportunity to upgrade via targeted emails.

Additional touchpoints, like web check-in and mobile app invites, are planned to be released following the launch of the upgrade programme. 
 
This new partnership is an example of airlines expanding ancillary offerings as a way to offset revenue losses experienced in 2020.  

“Vistara’s new upgrade program is expected to play a major role in building passenger confidence and loyalty in the long term. With support from Plusgrade, more passengers will have access to the personal space, comfort, privacy, and high-end service that come with a Premium experience,” said Vinod Kannan, Chief Commercial Officer at Vistara. 

Vinod Kannan further added, “These are all things that our travelers are looking for as they consider returning to the sky.”

Backed by over 10 years of accumulated learning and data from the industry, Plusgrade’s programme offers a set of dynamic tools that airlines of all sizes are leveraging today to address fluctuating inventory and passenger expectations.

“We help our airline partners ensure, as the door on the aircraft closes, they’ve captured every possible dollar by merchandising travel experiences, while also increasing passenger loyalty and satisfaction by providing their passengers with the best journey,” says Chris Engle, CCO of Plusgrade. 

“We are thrilled to have Vistara join our community and expose more passengers to the incredible premium experiences onboard a Vistara jet," Chris Engle added.