Northwest Airlines Exchanges Rewards For E-mail Viewing

E-mails and surveys have become a welcomed addition for Northwest Airlines' WorldPerks members.

The airline is giving select WorldPerks program members a new way to earn additional e-Reward dollars simply for receiving and reviewing e-mail offers and answering market research surveys under the eRewards program.

The program rewards consumers for the time they spend participating in surveys and e-mails that match their interests. Participating WorldPerks members can earn up to $1 in e-Rewards for every e-Rewards e-mail they review and up to $20 for responding to market research surveys. WorldPerks members can control the amount of e-mails and surveys they receive upon enrollment.

Consumers, in turn, can redeem their e-Rewards currency for a variety of awards including Blockbuster movie rentals, Hertz rental cars, Napster music downloads, Hilton HHonors points, magazine subscriptions and WorldPerks bonus miles. Members can use up to $100 e-Rewards dollars in a calendar year to claim their WorldPerks miles.

"Consumers who participate in the e-Rewards program appreciate that they are being rewarded for [their] time," said Bill Russo, president of the Texas-based e-Rewards, Inc. "Knowing that they are being rewarded for their time, consumers are more likely to open and read the e-mail communications they [receive from] e-Rewards."

"By making participating in the e-Rewards program available, Northwest Airlines is increasing the value the WorldPerks programs offers to [its] customers," he added.

Northwest Airlines began offering the service by invitation only to select WorldPerks members in July. Since the e-Rewards program debuted in March 2000, nearly 2 million people have joined the program, according to Russo.