Delta Air Lines has launched a partnership with Starbucks to allow frequent fliers to earn miles from their coffee purchases. The tie-up proved so popular with customers of both Fortune 500 companies on Wednesday that it overloaded the websites Delta and Starbucks launched to help consumers link their accounts.
The deal will allow those who are members of both Delta’s SkyMiles frequent flier program and Starbucks Rewards to link their accounts to earn one mile for every dollar spent at Starbucks. Travelers can also earn double Starbucks Rewards on days they fly on Delta.
The companies sent customers to deltastarbucks.com or starbucksdelta.com to set up their accounts.
But the websites were soon overwhelmed with traffic and customers could not get the link to work.
On Wednesday afternoon, both websites displayed a message saying: “Turns out you are just as excited about this partnership as we are. We’re working fast to fill all those requests, so please come back later to link your accounts.”
Customers took to Twitter to complain.
The companies are offering 500 miles to those who link their accounts by Dec. 31 and 150 Starbucks Rewards Stars once they make a qualifying purchase.
Delta said it would be “easy for millions of Starbucks Rewards and Delta SkyMiles members to earn free coffee and miles.”
But on the first day of the partnership, many customers instead got an apology and were told to try again later.
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