Do you know what those abbreviations mean? I didn’t until I went to a conference in LA last month. I enjoyed it, in part because it was sunny and warm and I got my share of summer that I didn’t have this summer. I mean there was summer but it wasn’t summery, it was rainy.

Anyway, global warming aside, I wanted to make these abbreviations clear to all of you who don’t know but are curious:

ARAC = well, this one I actually don’t know, but ancillary revenue is the AR here. It was the name of the conference which was organized by AI or Airline Information (group of people) who did a GREAT JOB. And are doing a great job. It was actually the best thing that I brought back home — the relationship with the guys from AI – Michael, Roger and Chris. And then there was also lovely Gill whose accent I admired probably the most.

Yes, the conference had two parts, one of which was dedicated to FFP or frequent flyer programs which is also called “loyalty”. A lot of attention was paid to keeping people as well as making money from all of them. As to making money the most publicity undoubtedly went to… RyanAir. Because anyone talking about LCC or low cost carriers would say: “Well, but not like RyanAir — did you hear they charge you for going to the toilet?” Thus everyone remotely thinking of business thought: “Hey these guys are really in the know of how to make MONEY not just preserve the image.”

In any case, the biggest success and the savor of me not carrying a lot of junk paper was the invention of our business cards by Andrey Deryabin whom we can only applaud. Really. Check those cuties out:

Aren’t they GREAT? What else do you need to say about ArrivedOK? It says it all: memorable, cute, innovative, created by those who actually THINK.

Because, as my favorite quote goes:

“Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.”

– Bernard Shaw

Tags: AI, airline information, Ancillary Revenue, b2b, conferences, FFP, frequent flyer, LCC, low cost carriers, loyalty program