SpiceJet is innovating with SpiceClub - a rewards and benefits program

Of late, SpiceJet has been making some great approaches in the Indian aviation market, making themselves more relevant and providing some strong competition to the other players in its home market. They keep offering frequent fare sales as well as innovative products such as the Fly For Sure and even lounge access. There's even a post that's in the wings on the various things that SpiceJet as well as other airlines have unbundled, but that's for the future. Back to the present.

SpiceJet's latest offering is SpiceClub, a card that can be reloaded and used for purchases within the SpiceJet ecosystem (their words, not mine), while earning some privileges at the same time. 

Membership to SpiceClub costs Rs 399 (US$6) a year, but comes with much more than that in value terms. I assume the term "SpiceJet ecosystem" would mean that you could use the card to purchase tickets as well as on-board meals, and even pay for things such as SpiceMax and other add-ons. In addition, you receive the following, for each membership year that's paid for:

• 2 free vouchers worth Rs.399 each to be used for domestic flight bookings (at Rs.798)
• Free Air Ticket on Member's Birthday (usable only for flights on that day, only base fare waived, ticket to be booked at least 30 days in advance)
• Marriage Anniversary Special - 50% off on Domestic Air Tickets for 2 passengers (usable only for flights on that day, 50% off is only on the base fare, ticket to be booked at least 30 days in advance)
• Free Priority Check-in
• Add-ons Special- 2 vouchers worth Rs.100 each to be used for domestic flight bookings, which can be used for any of their add-on products, being: Bag Out First, SpiceMax, MyFlexiPlan, Excess Baggage, FlyForSure, Other & Preferred Seats Selection.
• Preferred communication for any SpiceJet Promo Sale

You can find more information here, and register for SpiceClub here. After registration, a physical card (which I believe is going to be chip-enabled) will be mailed to the member. And while some of the benefits will be through codes to be used at the time of booking, there will be physical vouchers for the others.

Conclusion

SpiceJet values these benefits at up to Rs 10,000. While I wouldn't go so far as to agree with this amount, in my book, 

• the 2 free vouchers of Rs 399 each against domestic flight bookings itself pays for the cost of this membership. 
• the priority check-in is also quite highly, but I've rarely seen dedicated counters for these. 
• I value the free ticket and 50% discount on birthdays and marriage anniversary a bit lower, though I'd be quite happy if I indeed got to use these. 
• the add-on vouchers of Rs 100 each are also valuable but to a limited extent - each of the products against which you can redeem them against, cost Rs 300 or more.

While I can understand the innovative mindset of the folks at SpiceJet, I'm only surprised that they'll be spending on physical products such as the card, mailing costs, etc, not to mention point-of-sale terminals to use the card at. Very unlike a low-cost airline.

Having said all that, and while this is not a frequent flyer program, there are rewards and privileges to be had, which are clearly worth more than the price of the product.