PROGRAM CARD - Italo Più

Program name: Italo Più
Distinction: private high-speed rail with miles
Brand / operator: Italo - Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A. (NTV)
Family / owner: Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) / BlackRock (since 2024); previously GIP as an independent infrastructure fund
Industry: transport and mobility
Industry benchmark: no
Market: IT (Italy; access only for people resident or registered in Italy or San Marino)
Related programs: CartaFRECCIA (Trenitalia / FS - main competitor), X-GO (Trenitalia regional); Italo American Express credit card (co-brand with Amex, automatic qualification for the Premium tier)
Status: active
Legal / temporal status: no restrictions on the program itself; the 5th edition of the rewards operation (Italo Più V Edizione) covers 2024-2026 - earning and redeeming points until 28.04.2026; 6th edition (2026-2027) launched
Launch year: no public data on the year the 1st edition started (the program was already operating in 2013; 5th edition 2024-2026, 6th edition 2026-2027)
Main type: tier-based
Additional type: points-based
Enrollment cost: free
Channels: online (italotreno.com) · Italo mobile app (iOS / Android / Huawei) · station ticket office · Contact Center (892020 and Pronto Italo 060708)
Reach: no public data (approx. 255,000 members in 2013; no current data)

Comparative parameters (estimated ratings)

Implementation difficulty (1-5): 4 - multi-tier program with a separate counter for qualifying points (Tier Points) and reward points, a 12-month qualifying period, a corporate track, real-time management of benefits (lounge, upgrade, fast track), integration with the ticketing system and a co-brand credit card
Main KPI (impact strength): basket value (high)

Descriptive sections

0. Summary

Italo Più is a multi-tier loyalty program of the only fully private high-speed rail operator in Italy. Members earn points for journeys and services, which can be redeemed for free tickets from a catalogue, and as they move up the tiers (Member → Premium → Privilege → Platinum) they gain access to Italo Club lounges, fast track, class upgrades and point bonuses.

1. Objectives and context

The program aims to increase Italo's share of passengers' travel wallet on high-speed routes in Italy (Milan-Rome, Naples-Milan, etc.) at the expense of the competition (Trenitalia/FS). The main goal is retention and growth of ticket value among regular business travelers (Corporate track) and winning the loyalty of private travelers through rewards and status benefits.

2. Target group

The program is aimed at individuals resident or registered in Italy (and San Marino), aged 18+, traveling on Italo trains. In practice the main segment consists of commuters and business travelers who regularly use the high-speed lines, and the Corporate track targets employees of companies that hold a corporate agreement with Italo.

3. Architecture and type

Registration: free via the italotreno.com website, the app or at the ticket office; the member receives a unique Codice Italo Più (program code), which must be provided with every ticket purchase or up to 3 minutes before the train departs.
Point accumulation: for every euro spent on Italo tickets and services, 1 Italo Più Point (= reward point) is credited; for the Flex fare - 2 points per euro (promotion until 28.04.2026). Separate Punti Qualificanti (Tier Points) - earned from Flex, Economy and one-day Round-Trip tickets - determine the tier; points are credited to the account within 7 days of the journey.
Point redemption: Italo Più Points are redeemed for free reward tickets from the catalogue (valid 180 days from the date of the request); tiers guarantee additional status benefits (lounge, upgrade, fast track, seat selection) without the need to spend points.

4. Earn & burn mechanics

Accrual: 1 Italo Più Point for every euro spent on Italo tickets and services; 2 points/euro for the Flex fare (promotion until 28.04.2026); Tier Points (Punti Qualificanti) - only from Flex, Economy and one-day Round-Trip tickets (excluding: Carnet Smart Worker, Carnet Special, reward tickets, season passes)
Threshold and redemption: the threshold for redeeming points for reward tickets follows the current catalogue (details on the website); tiers (per the April 2023 terms, base thresholds): Premium = 1,000 Tier Points/year, Privilege = 6,000 TP/year, Platinum = 15,000 TP/year; promotional thresholds (5th edition until 28.04.2026): Premium = 500 TP, Privilege = 3,000 TP, Privilege Plus/Platinum = 6,000 TP; immediate promotion upon reaching the threshold during the qualifying period; upon joining the program - 500 welcome points (Welcome Bonus)
Reward forms: free Italo tickets from the reward catalogue (award tickets); status benefits: Fast Track (priority access to the platform), class upgrade Smart→Prima (on request, subject to availability), access to Italo Club lounges, seat selection; tier point bonus (+10% / +25% / +50% additional points for each journey)
Point expiry: points expire in line with the rewards operation edition (5th edition: earning and redeeming until 28.04.2026); the 6th edition 2026-2027 launches a new cycle; status benefits not used within a given Periodo Qualificante are forfeited

5. Emotional value

The program appeals to the aspiration of traveling with distinction - lounge, fast track and class upgrades on prestigious routes (e.g. Milan-Rome) build a sense of belonging to the group of "smart travellers." As a brand, Italo positions itself as a modern, Italian alternative to FS/Trenitalia, and the program reinforces this identity through design and the tone of its communication.

6. Gamification

The 12-month Periodo Qualificante with automatic promotion once the threshold is exceeded motivates members to concentrate their travel with a single operator
A separate Tier Points counter apart from reward points - members can "save up for a ticket" and build status at the same time
The tier point bonus (+10/25/50%) creates a snowball effect - a higher tier = faster point accumulation = more reward tickets
A requirement of at least 4 journeys per year as a condition for remaining in the program (risk of losing status)
The Italo American Express card as a shortcut to the Premium tier without collecting Tier Points

7. Differentiation

Compared with CartaFRECCIA (Trenitalia, the national operator's program), Italo Più stands out with a more modern tier model based solely on spending value (revenue-based, since 2024) rather than the number of journeys. In the European high-speed rail landscape it is an example that a loyalty model close to that of mileage airlines can be successfully implemented by a rail operator and used to build a distinctive premium brand.

8. Data and personalization

Data collected at registration: first name, last name, date of birth, email (username), phone, address; updates via the Personal Area or Contact Center (username change - only via Contact Center)
GDPR/Italian data protection law; marketing consent optional; data controller: Italo NTV S.p.A. (email: ntv.privacy@ntvspa.it)
Personalization: dedicated offers visible in the Personal Area; notifications about point balance and upcoming expiry; the Corporate program integrates the personal account with the employee's Italo Business account

9. Technology

Italo app (iOS / Android / Huawei AppGallery) - ticket purchases, digital loyalty card, point account overview, additional services (lounge, upgrade, seat selection)
italotreno.com portal - Personal Area, purchase history, reward catalogue
POS integration at station ticket offices and in the online ticketing system
Co-brand: Italo American Express Credit Card (American Express Italia S.r.l.); Italo Corporate / Italo Business - B2B track
Loyalty platform provider: no public data

10. Communication and lifecycle

Communication channels: email (confirmations, point balance, upcoming expiry, dedicated offers), app, Contact Center (892020)
Onboarding: online registration with the immediate grant of 500 welcome points and a Codice Italo Più; loyalty card in digital form (optionally physical)
Retention: automatic notifications about balance and deadlines; the Periodo Qualificante mechanism with tier promotion/demotion; the requirement of at least 4 journeys per year as an incentive for activity

11. Conclusion / inspiration for the almanac

Italo Più shows that a private rail operator can successfully build a loyalty program in a model close to that of airlines (revenue-based, tiers, lounge, upgrade), effectively competing with the national carrier's program - the key is simple earn & burn mechanics and clear status benefits.

Sources: Italo NTV - official Italo Più program page (italotreno.com/en/italo-piu-loyalty-programme, retrieved 2026-07-02); Italo NTV - tiers and benefits page (italotreno.com/en/italo-piu-loyalty-programme/levels-benefits, retrieved 2026-07-02); Regolamento Programma di Fedeltà "Italo Più" (version 01.04.2023, PDF from italotreno.com); The Flight Club - Italo Più analysis (theflightclub.it, 2024); Trainline IT - Italo Più program description (thetrainline.com/it/offerte/italo-piu)
Terms (link): https://www.italotreno.com/~/media/Images/content/pdf/Programma_fedelta/regolamento_programma_fedelta_1-aprile.pdf
Entry compiled on: 2026-07-02

Italo Più