Starwood, the group behind hotel chains such as Sheraton, W and Westin, has launched a loyalty programme for flights which will allow guests to book flights on hundreds of airlines with no blackout dates.

The new programme, called SPG Flights, is an extension of the group’s Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty programme which launched a no blackout policy in 1999.

Members of the scheme earn two Starpoints for every eligible dollar spent at nearly 900 Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide. They can also purchase up to 20,000 Starpoints every year at a cost of US$0.035 each (minimum 500).

The number of Starpoints required to get a free flight depends on the ticket price including taxes. A member could redeem 80,000 Starpoints to get a ticket costing $1,000 or 30,000 to get a ticket costing $400. Many airlines have started imposing fees on members of their frequent flyer programmes when redeeming awards but SPG Flights will allow its members to use their Starpoints to cover the taxes as well as the fare.

Starpoints can be redeemed on most major airlines, including British Airways. A return BA economy ticket between London Heathrow and Denver requires 195,000 Starpoints, for example.

Mark Vondrasek, Starwood’s senior vice president of distribution and loyalty marketing, said: “Starwood Preferred Guest through the competitive landscape nine years ago with the launch of No Blackouts, in 1999 which allowed our valued members to redeem their points for a standard room whenever Starwood had one available, with no blackouts or limits on the number of standard rooms set aside for redemption.

“We’ve now created SPG Flights as a natural extension of SPG’s No Blackouts leadership. With the addition of SPG Flights, our members will now have the same access to air travel they have come to know in the hotel industry through SPG – if there is an available seat, it’s yours,” he said.