If you've ever been fiercely loyal to a product or business, you might feel entitled to some loyalty perks. While many industries, like airlines and credit cards, have long-running customer loyalty programs, the cellphone industry has lagged behind. Good news; that's changing, and mobile perks you should take advantage of right now could get you free Super Bowl tickets, VIP passes to Lady Gaga, airline tickets, free international-travel data, and more. And, let me be the first to say, it's about damn time.
Aside from your rent, your cellphone might be one of your biggest expenses, and it's something that you likely feel you can't live without. In fact, a new survey from ADT noted that 90 percent of millennials reported that technology, like smartphones, helps them feel safe. And, while I spent half of my life without a cellphone, leaving the house without it these days makes me feel a little uneasy — especially because having a quarter (Is it more than that now?), finding a working payphone, and actually knowing the phone number I need to dial are three things that are pretty unlikely to happen.
Since getting rid of your phone is not an option, wouldn't it be great to get rewarded for it instead? I have been a diehard Verizon customer since I got my first clunky cellphone, and my commitment to them finally paid off.
As part of its new Verizon Up program, Verizon invited me to try out one of its new rewards first hand — a VIP ticket to see Lady Gaga in Los Angeles as part of Verizon Up's new partnership with the singer/songwriter. And, as a Verizon customer for more than 15 years, I was pretty psyched to finally get rewarded for my unwavering loyalty. If you want to get rewarded for one of your basic necessities, check out these mobile perks to take advantage of right now.
Verizon Up
I'll admit that I was upset when Verizon got rid of device-upgrade discounts when they abolished contracts, but if you're a Verizon customer, the new Verizon Up rewards program is a pretty rad replacement. All you need to do to join is go into your My Verizon app (or download it if you don't already have it on your phone) and follow the prompts to join Verizon Up. Just for joining you automatically get one free reward, which is good for 60 days.
Some of the current reward options include discounts on rides with Uber, a free three-month subscription to HBO Now, a Starbucks gift card, free data, and a chance to get VIP tickets to concerts and sporting events, including dream packages that include flights to the event and a red-carpet experience. Plus, they're adding new rewards all of the time. This program is pretty easy to participate in once you join. Basically just by paying your bill every month you can earn new rewards.
Verizon had a booth at the Lady Gaga show in Los Angeles and was busy registering Verizon customers on site. Two girls who had traveled more than 100 miles for the show were able to swap their nosebleed tickets for VIP tickets and backstage passes just for signing up, which of course totally made their night. Others won Lady Gaga swag for answering trivia questions about the "Born This Way" singer. If you're one of the lucky customers who wins a VIP package, you'll get the star treatment, and your seats are literally right next to Lady Gaga's piano.
But, even if you don't win concert or Super Bowl tickets, the other perks are still pretty cool, and help supplement the cost of things you already use, which is a win-win. And, just in case you're wondering, the show was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Virgin Mobile Inner Circle
If you're a diehard iPhone user, that's all Virgin Mobile supports, and by joining the Virgin Mobile Inner Circle, you can take advantage of amazing perks like: A free round-trip Virgin America ticket to the U.K. from the U.S. (after buying a regular ticket), 20 percent off on Virgin America flights on Virgin America, a free night at Virgin hotels after paying for two nights, and $170 in savings from the Virgin Wines club.
And, through Aug. 31, new Virgin Mobile customers who purchase an iPhone, and transfer their number from another carrier, can enjoy one year of unlimited service for just $1 plus taxes and fees with the plan costing $50 monthly after the first year. The fine print: You must enroll in Virgin Mobile's auto pay service, and have a registered vehicle to participate. But, this literally seems like the best deal around if you're on a budget and you think iPhone is the only phone.
T-Mobile Tuesdays
If T-Mobile is your carrier, Tuesday is the day to get free stuff from its partners, including Major League Baseball, VUDU, Papa John’s, the Fuel Rewards Program and Shell, Dunkin Donuts, Lyft, and more.
Other T-Mobile customer perks include one hour of free in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic flights for T-Mobile ONE Plus customers, and more. If you travel on the regular then you know that inflight Wi-Fi is a total rip off, so this perk is pretty boss.
Sprint Wireless Advantage Club
If you're a Sprint user, they offer the Sprint Wireless Advantage Club, which gives you unlimited talk, text, and data for between $30-$40 a month if you enroll in auto pay. However, this one one has a catch — you have to be invited to the program by a Sprint employee, so you're going to have to go out and find one to befriend.
Sprint also offers all userS the Sprint TV app that comes pre-loaded on Android, and can be downloaded for iPhone. This app gives you 24/7 access to movies and TV shows, however it can't be viewed with Wi-Fi, but if you have unlimited data then it's no biggie. Sprint also has Sprint Global Roaming, which gives you discounted talk, and free text in dozens of international locations. If you travel a lot, this is a pretty great perk because mobile travel data can add up fast. I have come back from Europe and Africa with some pretty exorbitant data bills, so this is really appealing to me.
AT&T THANKS
For AT&T users, you're automatically enrolled in AT&T THANKS just for being a customer. This loyalty program offers access to exclusive benefits like movies, music, priority services, and more.
The program has three tiers. The first tier is for those who are just wireless customers, a second is for people who have both AT&T wireless and an additional service like U-verse, or AT&T U-verse internet, and a third for customers who have more than three premium features.
Some of the AT&T THANKS perks include Ticket Twosdays, which gives you a free movie ticket to take a friend to the movies on Tuesdays, Front of the Line, which offers priority pre-sale concert ticket access, AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots, same-day delivery on a new device, access to select music and sporting events, and more.
If lowering your bill is more important than taking advantage of perks, check out these low-cost carriers that can help you slash your cellphone bill. But, if you don't like change and plan to stick with your carrier, start taking advantage of these perks right away. Because, free stuff!
