Scottish Government air travel loyalty programme queries: FOI release

Information requested

1. Whether the Scottish Government are signed up to any 'air miles' schemes whereby they receive points or discounts for every flight taken in an official Scottish Government capacity.

2. If so, how many air miles or points have been accumulated by the Scottish Government in 2024, 2025 and so far in 2026.

3. How the points/miles accumulated have been spent by the Scottish Government in 2024, 2025 and so far in 2026.

4. Whether Scottish Ministers accumulate air miles or points to their personal air miles schemes when they fly on Scottish Government business.

5. If so, please state how many air miles or points each Scottish Minister has accumulated in 2024, 2025 and so far in 2026.

Response

1. The Scottish Government is not signed up to any frequent flyer or other air travel loyalty programmes, either directly or by way of its travel agent.

2. Further to answer (1), no air miles or points have been accumulated by the Scottish Government.

3. Further to answer (2), no air miles or points have been spent by the Scottish Government.

4. This information is not held by the Scottish Government because air miles and other loyalty schemes are managed by airlines themselves and not by the Scottish Government or its travel agent. Any membership of such schemes, and use of any accrued benefits such as air miles or points, is a personal matter for the traveller. Ministers shall observe the Scottish Ministerial Code that stipulates that they must avoid arrangements that create undue obligation or personal benefit.

5. This information is not held by the Scottish Government for the same reason as given in answer (4).

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold the information described in answers (4) and (5).

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.