StormX partnered with I Only Fly First Class to let Storm Play users buy first class tickets using cryptocurrency. Users of the Storm Play app can access I Only Fly First Class through the platform an
StormX partnered with I Only Fly First Class to let Storm Play users buy first class tickets using cryptocurrency. Users of the Storm Play app can access I Only Fly First Class through the platform and purchase airline seats with STORM tokens—either tokens they earned through the app or tokens they purchased on exchanges.
Storm Play operates through blockchain technology, connecting users with small tasks in exchange for virtual currency. StormX raised $32 million during its crowdsale for the STORM token and plans to deploy that capital as it expands into new markets worldwide.
I Only Fly First Class runs a wholesale-based model. The company acquires frequent flyer miles from loyalty programs at discounted rates and books flights using those miles, passing along the savings to customers seeking premium fares at lower prices.
Simon Yu, StormX's CEO, described the partnership as opening luxury travel to a much wider audience. "Making first class flights available in cryptocurrency to savvy consumers, tech enthusiasts, adventurers, and bargain hunters is a momentous leap forward in merging the worlds of travel and crypto," Yu said. "Perhaps most exciting is that StormX's alliance with I Only Fly First Class means that travelling in style—once a luxury afforded by few—is now at the fingertips of everyday people. By watching advertisements or reviewing products, for example, anyone anywhere in the world can be rewarded in STORM Tokens and then use them to travel the world first class at more affordable fares."
David Mei, CEO of I Only Fly First Class, framed the arrangement as validation of his customer base and a way to reach technology-focused travelers. "The travelers on our platform come to us for the best luxury deals that are off the beaten path of traditional flight booking," Mei said. "Incorporating the added bonus of being able to pay in cryptocurrency—and being one of the first concierge services to offer this option—is an exciting way to recognize our thriving community. Our focus is to provide the most progressive, upscale, and secure air travel experience in the world, and our alliance with StormX will help us make this a reality for an entirely new community of tech lovers."
StormX and I Only Fly First Class formed one of the first direct connections between a cryptocurrency app and a premium travel service. Token holders now have a concrete way to spend their STORM holdings on premium travel without converting to dollars first. Few cryptocurrency use cases offered this kind of real-world utility. Travel companies watching this arrangement may decide to strike similar deals, expanding where digital currency can be deployed in the real world.
