Air Transat’s New Loyalty Program Rewards You for Not Flying

Air Transat has launched Staria, a loyalty program built around a space theme that tries to reward travelers during the long stretches when they are not on a plane. The Montreal-based carrier describes three working parts, which it calls points, stars and constellations. Points are the familiar piece: members earn them on eligible purchases and can spend them on part or all of an Air Transat flight or a Transat vacation package.

The stars are the unusual piece. Rather than coming only from flying, they are earned through interactive activities between trips, and they can be traded for practical perks such as seat selection, onboard meals or bonus points. In other words, the program is designed to keep members engaged with the airline in the months when they would otherwise have no reason to open its app or website.

Constellations address a common frustration with family travel. Up to nine members can pool their points into a single shared balance, which makes it easier for relatives or groups of friends to afford a booking that no single account could cover alone. There are limits worth knowing: taxes and airport fees cannot be paid with points, so redemptions will never cover the full price of a ticket.

The airline says more is coming. Air Transat plans to introduce co-branded credit cards with Desjardins and Visa later in 2027, a step that usually determines whether a new loyalty program becomes a serious earning tool or stays a modest perk. CEO Annick Guerard said the program is meant to strengthen the company’s relationships with its customers, a goal that will be tested once the cards arrive.

Sources: Air Transat news release, The Bulkhead Seat