In Latvia, app rewards frequent fliers for burned calories

Nike Mexico’s Subasta de Kilometros campaign has already offered runners the chance to use their tracked miles to bid on sports equipment. Now, the Burn The Miles app is using a similar idea by giving rewards to frequent fliers who jog enough to burn off the same number of calories as miles they’ve flown. The app was developed by communications agency MRM for Latvia-based loyalty program Baltic Miles, which rewards frequent fliers with points to exchange for products and services at partner businesses depending on how far they’ve traveled. Those downloading the app are challenged to match every mile they fly with a calorie burned in the space of 24 hours after they land, tracked using the smartphone’s built-in accelerometer. If they manage to do so, they will be able to win further prizes. The program encourages those whose work requires them to sit on aeroplanes for extended periods to reserve some of their free time to exercise. Since frequent fliers often have busy lifestyles, the app provides an incentive for users to keep themselves fit.