Episode 687

American Airlines C-Suite Insights: Loyalty & Experience with CCO Heather Garboden (#687)

Published on: 17th July, 2025

Join us as Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer at American Airlines, reveals how the airline is reshaping customer loyalty beyond traditional rewards programs. From enhancing digital tools to elevating premium experiences, Heather shares how data-driven insights and cross-team collaboration are driving initiatives that make travel easier, more personalized, and truly seamless across the OneWorld alliance.

Discover how small operational changes—like improved boarding processes and reduced gate-checked bags—are creating big wins for both customers and the airline. This episode dives into the emotional connection, trust, and reliability that American Airlines fosters to turn everyday travelers into lifelong advocates.

Hosted by Bridget Blaise-Shamai 

Show Notes:

1) Heather Garbodin

2) American Airlines

3) Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance 

4) Moments of Truth

5) AAdvantage from American Airlines - Insight-led Innovation & Industry Leadership

6) AAdvantage - Caring for Loyal Customers through Challenging Times.

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About the Podcast

Let's Talk Loyalty
“Let’s Talk Loyalty” is an industry podcast for loyalty marketing professionals.

If you work in loyalty marketing, join us every week to learn the latest ideas and marketing insights from loyalty specialists around the world.

Check out our website on: http://www.letstalkloyalty.com/

About your host

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Paula Thomas

Paula Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Let’s Talk Loyalty and Loyalty TV.

Paula Thomas is an award-winning podcaster who founded the “Let’s Talk Loyalty” podcast and business in 2019, and Loyalty TV in 2023.

She has over twenty-five years blue-chip marketing experience, including almost a decade leading consumer loyalty programmes in multiple sectors including telecommunications, the energy sector, banking and airline loyalty programmes.

She is from Ireland and lives in Dubai.

Paula is a former judge for the “International Loyalty Awards”, and the author of the book “Driving Loyalty in Convenience Retail”.

She holds an Executive MBA from Smurfit Business College, one of Ireland’s top universities, and is a “Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional”.

In 2025, she was chosen as the International Loyalty Industry Personality of the Year.