September 25 2019, Tokyo – Japan’s largest travel meta-search and media LINE TRAVEL jp (Web version) co-opted by Venture Republic Inc. (Tokyo, Minato, Chief Executive Officer: Shibata Kei) and LINE Corp (Tokyo, Shinjuku, Chief Executive Officer: Takeshi Idezawa) providing users with hotel and flight search and comparison options, will begin providing a LINE Point-back service from Wednesday September 25th 2019 to all users booking and paying through the website. Through this point-back service, the company will provide the industry’s first 2-tier point system that the users are entitled to earn LINE Points from LINE TRAVEL jp and travel companies’ own points.
Leading up to the LINE Point-back service on the Website
Until recently, travel meta-searches aggregated hotel accommodation, tours and flights sold online by travel companies across the country and served as a source of information on prices and availability. Recently such sites have increased in number, and each company is fighting for brand awareness through advertising promotion.
With the increase of meta-search sites listing the same hotel for a different price, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find the cheapest price available. Many users’ travel selection varied due to air miles and loyalty programs offered by each travel agency.
With this in mind, LINE TRAVEL jp (Web version) started its LINE Point-back service with the purpose of creating a website in which users could understand at a glance not only the real price displayed by travel agencies, but payment methods and point-back as well. The LINE Point-back service began first in January 2019 on LINE TRAVEL jp (LINE version), which has been effective in increasing bookings leading to a decision to implement it for the web version’s 25 million monthly users. Now we are proud to test the industry’s first meta-search point-back service. (In-house research as of September 25th 2019)
By booking or purchasing through LINE TRAVEL jp users can earn points from respective travel companies such as AirTrip or Expedia alongside LINE TRAVEL jp’s own LINE Points, a 2-tier point-back system. Additionally, LINE Points can be used through LINE Pay with one point equal to one Japanese yen in value, and users will be able to use LINE Points with each respective partnering company’s points for travel products.
Even with the consumption tax set to increase in October, we feel users can enjoy their travel with more value through this LINE Point-back service.
Point Promotion to Commemorate the Start of the Web Version’s LINE Point-back Service
From September 25th, point-back rate from participating travel companies usually around 1~5% will go as high as 10% for a limited time to celebrate the Point-back service’s arrival to the web version.
In the future, we aim to reach 30 million monthly users by March 2020 through promotion such as this to increase awareness, and some to have users feel they are getting they’re tax-worth of cost returned in points they can later use.
Promotion Period: Wed. September 25th 2019, 12:00 noon~Mon. September 30th 2019, 23:59*
LINE Point-back Feature Page: https://www.travel.co.jp/point/line/
*1 JALPAK, Booking.com Airbnb will run until September 27th 23:59
<Special Conditions>
– A Login is needed for LINE Point-back
– Targeted towards users finalizing bookings from the listed products on the feature page within 24 hours. However, this does not work towards changes or cancellations for bookings made.
– There is no limit to how much points are given
– LINE Points will become available 30-60 days following the end of the respective travel period
For more details, please see the FAQ section on our site. (https://www.travel.co.jp/help/)
