The cryptocurrency sector is experiencing a significant surge, and this is particularly evident in the world of aviation. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are attracting considerable attention as they continue to make headlines. Illustrating this trend, the Lufthansa Group, the parent company of the renowned global airline, has officially launched an innovative loyalty scheme. What makes this loyalty program noteworthy is its unique focus on NFTs.
So, who is eligible to participate in this groundbreaking initiative? All airlines under the Lufthansa umbrella, including Lufthansa itself, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss International Air Lines, to name a few, have the opportunity to be part of this program. They are actively engaged in the Uptrip loyalty project. This implies that travelers flying with any of these airlines can collect digital collectible cards while they embark on their journeys.
Uptrip constitutes a segment of the Lufthansa Innovation Group and was founded on the Polygon blockchain platform. The initial stage of Uptrip encompassed its rollout, during which it underwent a trial period involving upwards of 20,000 participants. Over the course of this timeframe, these users collectively acquired in excess of 200,000 digital tradeable cards.
The newest initiative introduces an innovative approach to recognizing involved travelers. By bestowing these passengers with distinctive digital assets, the project opens the door to extra benefits and privileges. The collectible items are crafted around particular destinations, aircraft from the airline’s fleet, and even specific holidays.
Once users of Uptrip have amassed all the required cards for specific themed sets, they gain access to exclusive advantages provided by Lufthansa. These advantages include complimentary in-flight internet access and entry to airport lounges. Furthermore, redeemable airline miles and other benefits are also incorporated into the program. But that’s not all. Uptrip also plans to introduce a trading feature that allows users to complete their collections by swapping cards with others.
Potential Impacts on Polygon’s NFT Ecosystem
Lufthansa Group’s Miles and More loyalty program presently has approximately 36 million participants. This entity is one of the latest to embrace the Polygon platform, following Starbucks, Nike, and other notable names. Despite this, Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) have held a prominent position in the NFT sector. In the hierarchy of NFT sales volume, Polygon holds the third position. However, according to the graph, the network boasts the highest number of purchasers. This tendency could receive further enhancement through Lufthansa’s recent undertaking.