Why Should People Care About Airline Loyalty Programs? No, Seriously…

Why Should People Care About Airline Loyalty Programs? No, Seriously…

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In the past, I’ve written about the evolution of the miles & points hobby over the years. There’s no denying that a lot has changed — the whole hobby has gone a lot more mainstream, and points are also much easier to earn than ever before, yet at the same time, the programs aren’t as useful as they used to be.

In this post, I’d like to pose a broad question that has been on my mind lately. As we all know, the major US airlines essentially operate as loss leaders for their loyalty programs — they might not make a lot of money actually directly transporting passengers, but they do make a lot of money from their programs.

Not only are the “big three” airlines already generating billions per year in revenue from these programs, but they still see a ton of upside. I want to talk about that a bit. These programs get less and less useful by the year, yet there’s no end in sight for consumer interest. Will something eventually have to change, or…?

Airline loyalty programs are becoming a tough sell for consumers

Obviously everyone should join airline loyalty programs and earn miles for the flights they take anyway, since there’s no downside or opportunity cost to doing that. However, that’s also not where airlines are making money.

Ultimately the way airlines make money with their loyalty programs is by getting consumers to apply for their co-branded credit cards, and have other qualifying partner activity (like booking hotels or rental cars through their portals). Generally speaking, the biggest incentive for consumers is supposed to be that they can earn elite status and earn miles for credit card spending. But how exactly are consumers supposed to be enticed, at this point?

When it comes to earning elite status, back in the day, the biggest benefit was complimentary first class upgrades on a space available basis. Nowadays airlines sell a vast majority of their first class seats (including selling cheap last minute upgrades), so upgrade percentages have gone way down. Maybe going back many years, a top tier elite might get upgrades 80% of the time, while now they might get upgrades 20% of the time, if they’re lucky.

Beyond the benefits you’d get from a basic co-branded airline card, the actual perks of elite status just largely aren’t worth pursuing. And I say this as someone who is obsessed with airline loyalty programs, and who has had top tier status with one airline or another since I was 15 years old. After 14 years, I finally said “you know what, I’m done chasing AAdvantage Executive Platinum,” because I realized I was earning it out of habit, rather than for any particular good reason.

I think the other thing that has really intrigued people about airline loyalty programs is the ability to redeem miles for first and business class experiences. Sure, maybe most people can’t do it consistently, but the intrigue of being able to redeem for flights that might otherwise seem unaffordable has certainly been one of the things that makes many people engage in these programs. It’s kind of like going to a casino, and knowing you can win big.

The current state of premium cabin award availability to and from the United States is really, really sad. Admittedly this is due to a combination of many factors, including that airlines are increasingly restricting award space to their own members, there’s increasing competition for these seats, there are tools that automate the process of finding award space, etc.

To give one example of how things have changed, try redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan points for transatlantic business class at this point. Sure, maybe you can lock in Lufthansa first class within two days of departure. But at this point, Lufthansa and SWISS business class award availability has basically dried up, United has restricted business class award space to its own MileagePlus members, and it’s not like Air Canada has many reasonably priced long haul business class awards.

Similarly, look at American AAdvantage. I’d argue that AAdvantage is actually the best of the lot at this point, as the program makes a fair bit of premium cabin award space available on American flights. But want to travel on Etihad, Qatar Airways, etc.? Well, I hope you’re not planning on originating in the United States…

It’s becoming hard to get excited about loyalty programs

What’s the actual value proposition of these programs at this point?

To the credit of airlines, there’s actually no sign of the interest or success of these frequent flyer programs slowing down. That’s despite the fact that I almost feel like they operate in a vacuum, and think that consumers don’t have alternatives.

I hate to say this, but when non-miles & points people ask me for credit card or elite status tips nowadays, I kind of tell them not to bother with many airline programs. I typically encourage people to earn cash back with their credit cards, or at a minimum, earn rewards with transferable points currencies, and then transfer to foreign programs.

I used to be able to easily tell people “hey, here’s why earning miles & points is super valuable,” but that’s just not the case anymore. Like, what’s my pitch supposed to be?

  • “If you’re fine planning travel within 48 hours of departure and can position to any gateway, you too can fly Lufthansa first class!”
  • “Oh yeah you can book All Nippon Airways first class, just refresh Seats.aero every 10 minutes to see when the one first class award seat across the entire calendar next opens up”
  • “There might not be any Qatar Airways business class award availability now, but if the airline launches a new route, maybe it’ll load a bunch of business class award space by mistake, and then you can book that… I’ve heard Mogadishu is lovely!”

I’ll also often ask people outside the miles & points hobby about their existing strategy, and how they use their airline miles, and the answers are… almost always pretty uninspiring. Like, they don’t seem terribly delighted with what they’ve been able to book, but that doesn’t stop them from continuing with their strategy.

Let me be clear, I still think there’s value in maximizing credit card rewards, and taking advantage of big welcome bonuses, spending bonus categories, etc. But what’s the actual value proposition of specifically wanting to earn points or get a credit card with a major US airline, beyond just a free checked bag benefit, or something?

I guess I’m curious if I’m alone with having this perspective. Ultimately consumers often make decisions against their own best interests, so is the continued growth of airline revenue from loyalty programs reliant on consumers making bad decisions and not maximizing their rewards, or is there something else I’m missing? I suppose the common belief is that “I live in X city and fly Y airline most often, and therefore I should use the credit card from Y airline for my spending.” I guess that’s exactly what airlines want, even if it doesn’t make much sense to me.

What’s interesting about Delta, as an example, is that the airline has really tried to sort of turn itself into a “lifestyle brand.” Now, that absolutely blows my mind, but it’s true. It does feel like some people have Delta credit cards and spend on them simply because they love the brand so much… or what else is the justification?

Airline redemption options aren’t what they once were

Bottom line

The miles & points industry has evolved massively over the years. The changes are a mixed bag, as I’ve covered in the past.

However, what I find most interesting is that the success of the “big three” US carriers is so heavily reliant on the continued revenue growth of their loyalty programs. That’s despite the fact that actually justifying engaging extensively in these programs is becoming a tougher sell, between the decreasing value of elite status, plus the increasingly limited ways to get outsized value with miles & points.

Consumers have choices in terms of their credit card spending, yet airlines seem to have people sold on the concept of using their co-branded credit card simply because they fly a particular airline frequently. Will these programs continue to be more and more lucrative for airlines, or is there a point at which this trend will reverse?

Where do you stand on the evolution of airline loyalty programs? Can the “big three” US airlines do no wrong with these programs, or is there a point at which consumers may actually shift their behavior?

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  1. Samar Member

    I've never considered pursuing status until this year, getting Atmos Silver via award flights and CC spend on the Summit card. Next year I'll pursue Atmos Gold, mainly because the CC spend will be mostly organic (and I can pursue the 100K companion award). I'll use that to gauge the value of pursuing Atmos Gold in the future (I can easily maintain Silver going forward with Summit card spending alone).

    When it comes to the...

    I've never considered pursuing status until this year, getting Atmos Silver via award flights and CC spend on the Summit card. Next year I'll pursue Atmos Gold, mainly because the CC spend will be mostly organic (and I can pursue the 100K companion award). I'll use that to gauge the value of pursuing Atmos Gold in the future (I can easily maintain Silver going forward with Summit card spending alone).

    When it comes to the value of points/miles, I've decided that I'm not going to worry about getting the best deal and focus on getting to where I'm going. I'll still look for saver fares, but I also spent 140k Avios to fly Qsuites in February rather than holding out for a saver fare to show up. If I can find a better option, I'll sure switch to it, but I'm comfortable knowing I'm set for my trip.

  2. igor Guest

    I fly Alaska regularly, but buy their Saver fares, which only generate 30% of the TQM of other classes of travel. My calculation is that I save more on the cheap seats now than I'd earn in points later on.

    If airlines are selling seats at loss to help fun their mileage programs, why not take advantage of the cheapest way to get from point A to B?

  3. This comes to mind Guest

    I fly once a year TATL and once a year TPAC in J. I choose by schedule and fare. I never much think about the miles, except to make sure my AA miles don't expire. This provides me enough miles for my once a year domestic F flight. I'm happy for the bonus, but don't count on it lasting. I never think about status.

  4. brianna hoffner Diamond

    It's been this way for YEARS, honestly. You have to have a multi-pronged approach. Looking at our flights this year I think we've done nearly a dozen permutations of Cash, Cash equivalent points purchase, Points, Transferrable points, MUAs, PlusPoints, etc.

    Having even a tiny bit of flexibility is always a huge asset in finding deals. Knowing how to use the various search tools out there is also essential. The only real change I've been...

    It's been this way for YEARS, honestly. You have to have a multi-pronged approach. Looking at our flights this year I think we've done nearly a dozen permutations of Cash, Cash equivalent points purchase, Points, Transferrable points, MUAs, PlusPoints, etc.

    Having even a tiny bit of flexibility is always a huge asset in finding deals. Knowing how to use the various search tools out there is also essential. The only real change I've been considering (and you alluded to here) is that there's heaps of good partner deals on American, and all of my OneWorld eggs are in the British and Qantas baskets right now... Might try to change that in 2026.

  5. Chad Guest

    I agree and disagree with this. AA and to a lesser extent, AS are really the only domestic programs worth earning miles in any more. Close-in JAL availability is still plentiful enough to make those miles valuable, but other than that, I don't really collect any domestic airline miles any more. You are right that availability is nearly gone on a lot of routes. I have friends in Brazil and with UA locking all their...

    I agree and disagree with this. AA and to a lesser extent, AS are really the only domestic programs worth earning miles in any more. Close-in JAL availability is still plentiful enough to make those miles valuable, but other than that, I don't really collect any domestic airline miles any more. You are right that availability is nearly gone on a lot of routes. I have friends in Brazil and with UA locking all their J availability down to their own devalued program, I'm pretty sure I'm just going to be booking cash Y fares and hoping for a cheap paid upgrade at this point for all South America travel. I have my honeymoon coming up in 2027, I'm going to burn pretty much all my MR and UR on that and I don't think I'll be trying as hard to earn miles after that. It's unfortunate, but the walls really are closing in as far as booking premium cabins, and if I can't book premium cabins, I may as well focus on cash back. You're right that status is nearly worthless now too. I scored AA Plat Pro vis challenge during Covid and that was fun because travel was still down and upgrades were plentiful but I'm sure that's not the case now, and don't even get me started on lounge access. If there is always a wait list exceeding your layover length, then what's the point?

  6. derek Guest

    It's come to a point that the lowest level (for example, silver) is beneficial but the higher levels are not worth any effort.

  7. derek Guest

    BAD! Article says "As we all know, the major US airlines essentially operate as loss leaders for their loyalty programs — they might not make a lot of money actually directly transporting passengers, but they do make a lot of money from their programs."

    That might be like saying the husband is the leader and the stay at home wife (or husband of the husband) is the loss leader. No, both are important.

  8. Andrew Diamond

    I completely agree with this article. I did get a Fidelity card recently - and I'm up 18% (in the 5 months I've owned FXAIX), which is the opposite of miles. Is that sustainable? Probably not at that rate. But long term, it will appreciate versus this airline mile ecosystem.

    Loyalty can help with very niche cases (unpopular routes for upgrades), but frankly it definitely isn't worth me spending $10-15k / year so I can...

    I completely agree with this article. I did get a Fidelity card recently - and I'm up 18% (in the 5 months I've owned FXAIX), which is the opposite of miles. Is that sustainable? Probably not at that rate. But long term, it will appreciate versus this airline mile ecosystem.

    Loyalty can help with very niche cases (unpopular routes for upgrades), but frankly it definitely isn't worth me spending $10-15k / year so I can visit an international business/first lounge a few times a year.

  9. Andrew Guest

    I think it depends on your individual situation. I fly semi-regularly for business. We are restricted to economy tickets unless flying overseas. The main benefit as a Delta GM is the frequent upgrade to C+, which makes a difference returning after a long week on a client site. Likewise the priority check in and early boarding make travel just a bit easier. I get just enough Skypesos to cover a domestic flight or two for...

    I think it depends on your individual situation. I fly semi-regularly for business. We are restricted to economy tickets unless flying overseas. The main benefit as a Delta GM is the frequent upgrade to C+, which makes a difference returning after a long week on a client site. Likewise the priority check in and early boarding make travel just a bit easier. I get just enough Skypesos to cover a domestic flight or two for me and my wife each year, so that's a money saver for me. This adds up to real value because as a business traveler I'm not paying Delta with my own money.

    Do I bank Skypesos for that annual splurge trip? Of course not - credit card points are far more effective. Do I wish first class upgrades happened more often? Absolutely. Would I advise someone paying for flights with their own money to chase airline status? Never. But it works in my particular situation as long as I keep realistic expectations.

  10. Lukas Guest

    I feel you. The cost-benefit analysis doesn’t make sense anymore. I have a couple of million miles ”in the bank” that I try to use, but I’ve stopped chasing status (since the benfits aren’t there anymore) and am somewhat looking forward to becoming a free agent and just book with whatever airline has the cheapest business class ticket.

  11. tebriggs New Member

    Maybe I'm an outlier but I continue to see benefit in pursuing status (Delta in my situation). 95% of my travel is for work and is largely international, but we are limited to economy or at most premium economy if the price is within a certain window. I'm also based in a city that is not a massive Delta operation, so my upgrade percentage is still quite high on domestic flights. Diamond gives me upgrades...

    Maybe I'm an outlier but I continue to see benefit in pursuing status (Delta in my situation). 95% of my travel is for work and is largely international, but we are limited to economy or at most premium economy if the price is within a certain window. I'm also based in a city that is not a massive Delta operation, so my upgrade percentage is still quite high on domestic flights. Diamond gives me upgrades that I can use for the critical flights over the Pacific. I fully agree that miles redemptions are pretty lousy for anything aspirational, but I can book domestic flights for personal trips at an acceptable rate for what I need.

    I've never understood the idea of chasing status just to have it, but as a tool to improve my business travel comfort it remains valuable.

    1. Tim Dunn Diamond

      and does your company have a corporate or negotiated agreement with Delta? Do they have it with any other airline and, if so, why do you choose DL?

      The point is that the calculus of status changes when someone else is paying for the ticket; DL carries more corporate and negotiated revenue than any other US airline - probably any airline in the world.

      Your company spends the money, you get the mileage and you...

      and does your company have a corporate or negotiated agreement with Delta? Do they have it with any other airline and, if so, why do you choose DL?

      The point is that the calculus of status changes when someone else is paying for the ticket; DL carries more corporate and negotiated revenue than any other US airline - probably any airline in the world.

      Your company spends the money, you get the mileage and you get to decide how to pursue the status.

      and there are many more loyal DL passengers in their non-hub cities than people realize. DL has figured out far better than AA or UA how to serve both small and medium sized cities that have decent amounts of business travel as well large cities that have high concentrations of corporate travel.
      AA had the potential to rival DL but has strategically failed to DL in NYC, LAX and BOS while UA is far too focused on flying to exotic secondary and tertiary international cities that have no corporate travel value.

      Chasing status doesn't make sense but when someone else pays for your travel and you get to choose how to maximize the loyalty program benefits, it can be a very lucrative proposition for you as a business traveler. Delta realized how to focus on that segment and do it better than any other airline - probably on the planet.

      and then they have built the Amex system for people that do much of their own travel spending for business or leisure and DL has still integrated Amex into its corporate travel agreements.

    2. Santastico Diamond

      While I love Delta for the convenience of non stop flights (I live in a Delta hub), anytime I had a trip to Asia that involved a connection, I gave up any loyalty to Delta and flew an Asian airline. If I had to connect somewhere to go to Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, etc... I would always fly to SFO or LAX on Delta and then fly business class on Singapore or Cathay onwards. The experience was night and day.

    3. tebriggs New Member

      We don't have a negotiated agreement with any of the airlines. As long as I book a US flag carrier I can go with anyone (assuming pricing is within a reasonable range of the cheapest option).

      I chose Delta primarily because of best connections when I was mostly flying domestic. Once I transitioned to international I saw no need to switch that up, particularly since they also have great connections for my Europe needs...

      We don't have a negotiated agreement with any of the airlines. As long as I book a US flag carrier I can go with anyone (assuming pricing is within a reasonable range of the cheapest option).

      I chose Delta primarily because of best connections when I was mostly flying domestic. Once I transitioned to international I saw no need to switch that up, particularly since they also have great connections for my Europe needs and a strong schedule for Japan.

      At this point I'm one trip a way from million miler so there's that pull to stay the course, plus I'm generally more than happy with the quality of service so there's nothing to push me away. I never looked at status as a way to get free aspirational flights but just as a way to smooth the journey, which it still does for me.

    4. Tim Dunn Diamond

      thanks for the additional color.

      It is interesting that you note that you are required? to book a US carrier for international travel. That is interesting in light of the comment directly above yours.
      I suspect your company is not alone and the number of people that book US airlines in competitive markets because of policies like this is a lot higher than the anecdotal comments on aviation social media would suggest

    5. Santastico Diamond

      I am talking old days when I worked for a multinational company. When you have too many employees, you have to use a travel system elected by the company and usually the system will give you the best fares so within a range of price you can only select the flights that fall into that bucket. I was lucky that flying business class on Singapore and Cathay was always within the price range of flying...

      I am talking old days when I worked for a multinational company. When you have too many employees, you have to use a travel system elected by the company and usually the system will give you the best fares so within a range of price you can only select the flights that fall into that bucket. I was lucky that flying business class on Singapore and Cathay was always within the price range of flying Delta. Now, more and more companies that are smaller and more nimble are letting employees go directly to an airline website and book their tickets. That was my case for the last 11 years and Delta was my first choice for the convenience of non stop flights but when having to connect anyway I always hopped around and got what was more comfortable within a decent price range.

  12. Udo Diamond

    I got tbh Ben, AAdvantage still delivers for me both in terms of redemptions as well as in terms of upgrades. One World Emerald here. Of course things could be better, but I’m not despondent about the state of the program.

  13. George N Romey Guest

    If one can make the mid level where they might get EP/MCE/CP complimentary than it's likely worth chasing status. If you're a more well to do consumer that only flys 2-4 times a year (there's more of these kind of flyers than people think) you're better off just buying the best priced premium(or EP/CP/MCE) that fits your schedule needs.

  14. RealTaylor Diamond

    I think the thing you're missing is that today, having airline status and co-brand credit cards makes traveling in economy significantly better.

    With mid-level airline status, you get access to Economy Plus / Comfort Plus / Main Cabin Extra seats for free at time of booking. These seats make traveling in economy significantly more comfortable as you get extra legroom seats at the front of the plane. With American and Delta, you also get free...

    I think the thing you're missing is that today, having airline status and co-brand credit cards makes traveling in economy significantly better.

    With mid-level airline status, you get access to Economy Plus / Comfort Plus / Main Cabin Extra seats for free at time of booking. These seats make traveling in economy significantly more comfortable as you get extra legroom seats at the front of the plane. With American and Delta, you also get free alcoholic drinks. With Delta, you also get early boarding and better snacks (basically the first class snack basket) on flights > 900 miles. These tickets often sell for $100+ per flight and they make traveling in economy significantly better - so it is a big benefit to get these seats at time of booking for free, especially if you fly many flights per year with the airline.

    Preminum Airline co-brand credit cards provide access to airline lounges which makes traveling significantly more comfortable, especially if you are traveling in domestic economy, where full meals are not served. Given the price of food and drinks at airports today, it is logical for many consumers to get these cards for lounge access.

  15. Sel, D. Guest

    For a frequent biz traveler it provides a ton of value. I earn status on flights work is paying for. Sure, upgrades are slim, but I’m taken care of during irrops and get confirmed on a different flight or I’m number 1 on the standby list. Also, earning 11x miles per dollar instead of 5x is pretty great.

    Another thought is not just award availability, but the massive rapid redemption inflation as well. Skypesos,...

    For a frequent biz traveler it provides a ton of value. I earn status on flights work is paying for. Sure, upgrades are slim, but I’m taken care of during irrops and get confirmed on a different flight or I’m number 1 on the standby list. Also, earning 11x miles per dollar instead of 5x is pretty great.

    Another thought is not just award availability, but the massive rapid redemption inflation as well. Skypesos, United has gotten worse, AA’s huge deval this year. Not to mention hotel points deval...

  16. brad Guest

    I do think a lot of people in hub cities default their loyalty to one carrier.
    I live near a Delta hub and on a popular route the upgrade list each time is so long that only the very top tier would even get a comfort plus upgrade.
    There also seems to be some social currency for certain people to mention they have status.
    The airlines have done a solid job of...

    I do think a lot of people in hub cities default their loyalty to one carrier.
    I live near a Delta hub and on a popular route the upgrade list each time is so long that only the very top tier would even get a comfort plus upgrade.
    There also seems to be some social currency for certain people to mention they have status.
    The airlines have done a solid job of making people proud to have a high annual spend with their company. For other business it would seem weird to mention your level of spending with a company. For example not many people would care to know if someone spent more than $10k per year at Costco.

  17. Santastico Diamond

    As most things in life, it all depends on ones specific situation. When I was younger and working and traveling for multinational companies, I was very into airline and hotel loyalty since I was basically getting "free" miles and points as my company was paying for my travels. It was nice to have status, get upgrades since corporate policy was strict and I could not book a suite or sometimes business class. Fast forward to...

    As most things in life, it all depends on ones specific situation. When I was younger and working and traveling for multinational companies, I was very into airline and hotel loyalty since I was basically getting "free" miles and points as my company was paying for my travels. It was nice to have status, get upgrades since corporate policy was strict and I could not book a suite or sometimes business class. Fast forward to today, I work by myself, I pay for my trips and I love the freedom of me choosing where and how to spend my money. I totally gave up on hotel loyalty since the pandemic and currently only have status from credit cards. I basically have had zero nights in most top hotel loyalty programs in the past few years. I stay where it is more convenient for me and give preference for small boutique hotels. As for airlines, the loyalty comes from convenience. I am "loyal" to Delta because I live in a Delta hub and Delta happens to be the most convenient airline for my needs. What do I mean by convenience? Non stop flights. Now, I will always have status with Delta because I am a 2MM miler but I will not go out of my way to book with them. If I am located in a city where another airline is more convenient, I will chose that airline vs Delta.

  18. Likes-to-fly Diamond

    My main interest in loyalty programs was always collection of points and miles. Have had many J-class award flights and free hotel nights in the past.

    Alas, every year I am more disillusioned about these programs. I used to like Miles and More (am still Senator), however, M&M, together with LHG services, in the last years deteriorated so much that I do not see any benefits anymore. Not even J-class award with LH. Same...

    My main interest in loyalty programs was always collection of points and miles. Have had many J-class award flights and free hotel nights in the past.

    Alas, every year I am more disillusioned about these programs. I used to like Miles and More (am still Senator), however, M&M, together with LHG services, in the last years deteriorated so much that I do not see any benefits anymore. Not even J-class award with LH. Same goes for BA. Meh. The competition has simply evolved...

    This year I made KrisFlyer my main program, just because SQ services, on the ground or in the air, are simply on another level. I do not have high expectations of the program itself, but let's see.

  19. Peter Guest

    Within a few years, the airlines will simply set aside most of their saver availability seats for its status members. That alone will provide the incentive to keep earning status. Given the lack of upgrades, saver availability on key routes is the whole game.

    We're starting to see the beginnings of it now (X% off miles redemption if you hold a co-brand card).

  20. BizClassOnly New Member

    "I live in X city and fly Y airline most often, and therefore I should use the credit card from Y airline for my spending" My loyalty is with United not because I love United but because if you live near IAH you can get nonstops to the most locations. If I can fly direct at 10am rather than have to wake up at 3am to connect through Miami to get to Saint Thomas, I'll...

    "I live in X city and fly Y airline most often, and therefore I should use the credit card from Y airline for my spending" My loyalty is with United not because I love United but because if you live near IAH you can get nonstops to the most locations. If I can fly direct at 10am rather than have to wake up at 3am to connect through Miami to get to Saint Thomas, I'll pay up for that unless the difference is substantial. So I get their credit card because it makes travelling with them just a little bit easier and I can save just a little bit of money. But sure, as soon as I have to connect no matter which airline, I really don't care if i'm going through United.

  21. DENDAVE Gold

    While we (readers of this blog) seek out outsized value with business and first international redemptions, I'd be willing to bet that many, maybe the majority, of participants are happy with economy bookings. Points are a way to make travel cheaper/attainable for many, and I think many are more interested in getting to take the trip itself vs. how they get there and back. I've known many people who cash in points to go visit...

    While we (readers of this blog) seek out outsized value with business and first international redemptions, I'd be willing to bet that many, maybe the majority, of participants are happy with economy bookings. Points are a way to make travel cheaper/attainable for many, and I think many are more interested in getting to take the trip itself vs. how they get there and back. I've known many people who cash in points to go visit family, be able to afford a trip to Disney, etc.

    I've never had anything but a low tier status on an airline or two, and I don't see that changing soon, but I'll keep chasing points for now. I'm lucky to have a fair amount of flexibility in my travels to make use of them. Though my current effort to find a way home from NZ in business on an upcoming trip I feel is pushing my luck...

    1. Gus Guest

      I’m happy with economy bookings, especially on better foreign airlines. Flew all over Asia in coach with my family this summer, and it was great—because we loved the places we went. Based on this blog post, I think Lucky might actually be moving over to the dark side with me. When you’re buying tickets for a family of four or more, chasing seats up front isn’t worth it. Points are still helpful, primarily for their...

      I’m happy with economy bookings, especially on better foreign airlines. Flew all over Asia in coach with my family this summer, and it was great—because we loved the places we went. Based on this blog post, I think Lucky might actually be moving over to the dark side with me. When you’re buying tickets for a family of four or more, chasing seats up front isn’t worth it. Points are still helpful, primarily for their refundability on international flights, and a domestic hub airline credit card can be worth it for free bags, but there’s no reason for family leisure travelers to chase airline status and free lounge access for two or three trips a year.

    2. Throwawayname Guest

      For anyone who's not very tall and/or wide, Y is absolutely fine up to about 4 hours at a time. It starts getting a bit tedious at that point and, to me at least, it gets unbearable at around the 7 hour mark. Anything more than 8 hours and I'm definitely out. However, that doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on F tickets.

      For my long haul trips, I use a combination of...

      For anyone who's not very tall and/or wide, Y is absolutely fine up to about 4 hours at a time. It starts getting a bit tedious at that point and, to me at least, it gets unbearable at around the 7 hour mark. Anything more than 8 hours and I'm definitely out. However, that doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on F tickets.

      For my long haul trips, I use a combination of award tickets and business class offers, even if they require a positioning flight. Where neither option is available, I can still fly in economy but I'll strategically use connections to avoid long segments. Crossing the Atlantic via KEF, going from Europe to the UAE via ATH/IST or West Africa via Lisbon etc means having the opportunity to avoid the claustrophobia and misery that comes with long haul Y flights.

      There's also premium economy, but it tends to be pretty expensive for what it is - probably makes sense for certain redemptions though.

    3. Gus Guest

      My family’s long haul flights this summer on Qatar and Singapore (both booked with miles) in economy were good despite me being over 6 ft. That said, we do a thing where we book a row of three then put the fourth person on the aisle in front of that row. That ensures that the seat in front of me won’t be reclined and provides a little extra shoulder room with a child in the...

      My family’s long haul flights this summer on Qatar and Singapore (both booked with miles) in economy were good despite me being over 6 ft. That said, we do a thing where we book a row of three then put the fourth person on the aisle in front of that row. That ensures that the seat in front of me won’t be reclined and provides a little extra shoulder room with a child in the middle seat in my row. Provides a decent experience even when economy is full, which it most often was.

  22. Jack Guest

    Sylvester Stallone said that you're either in the game or out of the game. The credit card/loyalty program hobby is a game. The average person isn't in the game. Of those in the game, skilled players win & unskilled players don't. Football great Vince Lombardi said that very few have the will to prepare to win. Casually reading the blogs isn't enough. It's not going to be handed to a person. It takes work, experimentation, & persistence.

    1. Gentleman Jack Darby Guest

      In the P&M game, Ants eat and Grasshoppers dance!

  23. JustinB Diamond

    My theory for the non-enthusiasts like us is more the allure of travel than anything. Ohhhh I can get the gold delta amex for $100 and then go on a free vacation? Amazing! Then they use the miles to fly main cabin to Cancun and are thrilled. Instant brand loyalty, not realizing with their spending patterns it'll take 5-10 years before they can do it again.

  24. justindev Guest

    I have always found this points and miles stuff crazy. And the justifications used for being involved, from I get a phone number to call when things go wrong to all manner of other excuses amusing. If you have to spend thousands for that security of a number to call, seems to me it would be more financially sound to just purchase travel insurance. So there is little validity to such an excuse.

    I...

    I have always found this points and miles stuff crazy. And the justifications used for being involved, from I get a phone number to call when things go wrong to all manner of other excuses amusing. If you have to spend thousands for that security of a number to call, seems to me it would be more financially sound to just purchase travel insurance. So there is little validity to such an excuse.

    I have only ever reached "elite level" twice. Gold level on AA, last year and this year due to business travel and 1 personal trip each year on AA's partners. I notice no difference in having this level and having none. Same boarding priority provided by work and the gold status; and my personal trips are booked in business class at a minimum.

    While I can certainly understand accruing miles organically via work trips, these circuitous routings and mileage run things that people do are just so bizarre and a waste of life.

    If the programs have been devalued the continued sucking at the teat is so strange.

    1. JustinB Diamond

      I don't chase top tier elite status but being based in a hub get there by default - so maybe that makes it different but for me the 'phone number to call' / priority handling during IRROPS is by far what I value the most.

    2. FlyAround Guest

      Those are actually great reasons to stay away from Delta. I'd stick with Southwest until the new rules in January then switch to United.

  25. Evan Guest

    As a very-long-time reader, I appreciate your candor on the subject. Other bloggers just want to keep the music playing because they're making a living off their hobby -- why sound defeated when you can pretend everything is fine? You're right, though: redemptions aren't inspiring for most people anymore. In 2012, I was single and took a whirlwind trip around Asia, hopping between Cathay First and fifth-freedom flights in Qatar Business. Now, it's about getting...

    As a very-long-time reader, I appreciate your candor on the subject. Other bloggers just want to keep the music playing because they're making a living off their hobby -- why sound defeated when you can pretend everything is fine? You're right, though: redemptions aren't inspiring for most people anymore. In 2012, I was single and took a whirlwind trip around Asia, hopping between Cathay First and fifth-freedom flights in Qatar Business. Now, it's about getting from point A to point B for free, even in economy to that wedding in Indiana. And flying my parents around in domestic first so they feel kinda special. That still means something, but its made me lost interest in far-flung trip reports on airlines I'll never again fly for free. It was good while it lasted!

  26. Bort Guest

    The appeal of status for me is complimentary upgrades to economy plus. I do a fair amount of domestic business travel and the company policy is that we fly in economy. Some managers don't mind if you pay for economy plus on cross-country flights, but even then we're not supposed to make a habit of it. Being able to book economy plus at no cost makes my trips noticeably more pleasant. Obviously you don't need...

    The appeal of status for me is complimentary upgrades to economy plus. I do a fair amount of domestic business travel and the company policy is that we fly in economy. Some managers don't mind if you pay for economy plus on cross-country flights, but even then we're not supposed to make a habit of it. Being able to book economy plus at no cost makes my trips noticeably more pleasant. Obviously you don't need to chase high status tiers for that perk as lower tier status will do. I also fly into a lot of smaller airports on CRJs, and it seems like I get an upgrade to first about half the time with AA platinum status.

    I think the value proposition for putting spending on airline credit cards is underwhelming. I think there are cash back cards that make more sense when you factor in the convenience and simplicity.

  27. DavidW Guest

    I find value, but I'm the guy most frequent flyers hate, as I get almost all my AA miles and Platinum Pro status from credit card spend and online shopping. Every year I earn enough for my wife and I to fly business on a nice vacation. In the past few years, we flew business to Spain, Africa in Q Suite, Italy, and more, all with miles. Platinum Pro gets me One World Emerald with...

    I find value, but I'm the guy most frequent flyers hate, as I get almost all my AA miles and Platinum Pro status from credit card spend and online shopping. Every year I earn enough for my wife and I to fly business on a nice vacation. In the past few years, we flew business to Spain, Africa in Q Suite, Italy, and more, all with miles. Platinum Pro gets me One World Emerald with the lounge access it entails.

    Now, sometimes we have to fly less desirable routes, as in a lay over at LHR on the way to BCN instead of direct (home is IAD/DCA), but I see that as a minor inconvenience especially with access to the BA first class lounge. And, yeah, if on BA there are the surcharges, but it's still far less than paying for business class and far more certain than hoping for an upgrade that will never come. The big issue for me is that AA charges so many miles to fly on its metal and limited Qatar availability. However, I'll check every day, usually multiple times, for better routes and pricing, and that usually pays off, as I'll end up rebooking the trip a couple times, but that's easy to do.

  28. Irrationality Guest

    The economics of the programs are entirely inverted at this point, and that includes holding the Centurion or Sapphire Reserve cards. At 5:00 pm yesterday at LGA there was a cluster of 30-40 people in suits huddled around the Sapphire and Centurion lounge entrances in the corner of Terminal B staring at their phones. These are all working professionals paying high annual fees. I just don’t get it. To them, the fee is probably nothing,...

    The economics of the programs are entirely inverted at this point, and that includes holding the Centurion or Sapphire Reserve cards. At 5:00 pm yesterday at LGA there was a cluster of 30-40 people in suits huddled around the Sapphire and Centurion lounge entrances in the corner of Terminal B staring at their phones. These are all working professionals paying high annual fees. I just don’t get it. To them, the fee is probably nothing, but isn’t the value of their time worth more than waiting for the “comfort” the lounge would provide? This is especially true at Terminal B at LGA which has a plethora of wonderful and very comfortable restaurants and places to sit and it’s never too crowded. The only logical thing is that they are prestige hunting and have convinced themselves that somehow those lounges are sooooo goood, it’s worth the wait.

  29. Samo Member

    As Flying Blue Gold and TK Elite, I find the value in status. Having access to priority check-in, fast track at security and lounges makes all the difference. It's much more relaxing and the time saved adds up over the year if you travel frequently. Free bag saves me around 60€ per round trip (which equals almost 1000 per year for me). Having access to the best seats on the plane for free is also...

    As Flying Blue Gold and TK Elite, I find the value in status. Having access to priority check-in, fast track at security and lounges makes all the difference. It's much more relaxing and the time saved adds up over the year if you travel frequently. Free bag saves me around 60€ per round trip (which equals almost 1000 per year for me). Having access to the best seats on the plane for free is also nice.

    Miles themselves are quite pointless these days. They're nice to have but I wouldn't bother chasing them. Status is why I'm "in the game".

  30. NS Guest

    For a mid-level corporate peon, something like United Club makes a lot of sense. United is your classic reliable mediocrity: will get you there in one piece (teeth don’t necessarily count) and in tolerable discomfort. There’s typically enough corporate travel to quality for Silver or Gold; the accrued miles are enough to cover the fees with some left over.

    For personal travel, more or less worthless.

  31. DenB Diamond

    I still care about the programs. There's more to them than auto-upgrades.

    Someone I know and respect is doing lots of flight runs this Autumn to renew top-tier status in Flying Blue and Aeroplan and to finish the Turkish challenge. Flying Blue is one thing (sunk cost fallacy: renewal is easier than first-time qualification) but Aeroplan Super Elite is a heavy lift. I have trouble deciding if my friend is the canary in the coal...

    I still care about the programs. There's more to them than auto-upgrades.

    Someone I know and respect is doing lots of flight runs this Autumn to renew top-tier status in Flying Blue and Aeroplan and to finish the Turkish challenge. Flying Blue is one thing (sunk cost fallacy: renewal is easier than first-time qualification) but Aeroplan Super Elite is a heavy lift. I have trouble deciding if my friend is the canary in the coal mine (status is now the key to The Game), or a status junkie.

    Ben is right: AAdvantage auto-upgrades don't work any more. I don't know about UA and I've never flown DL, but on AC, upgrades are metered with eUp coupons, heavily bestowed on Super Elites, whose upgrades clear most of the time. I suspect the problem is worse in the US than elsewhere.

    As for availability, supply/demand has reared its ugly head. Lots more people are chasing those JAL and ANA premium seats and lots more people are buying premium seats for cash. When people like us get an availability alert from a paid tool, it's already too late.

    Rant: When will AAdvantage scrap their program's disAAdvantage: "Transpacific only" routing rule for USA-Asia. QR, BA happily transport you to Asia from USA but American won't let you book it. BA, QR, AC, UA programs don't have this annoyance.

    All are holding back some/most premium availability for their own members (or elites). It makes the game harder. To win, I have to diversify points more. So I adapt: go heavy on ThankYou points, transfer to EVA and get Business Class seats to/from Toronto, while Aeroplan/Lifemiles users whine and moan. It is what it is.

    My biggest frustration: secret crafty strategies carriers use to frustrate search tools. Dynamic married-segment availability sets my hair on fire. JL ORD-TYO? Sure, connecting in JFK. So JFK-TYO should be available nonstop, right? Wrong: originate in ORD, you'll connect in NYC. Originate in NYC, you'll connect in ORD. All cuz they're annoyed at seats.aero.

    It's all shifting and changing. But the carriers always have distressed inventory (unsold seats close to flight time) and I'm always learning new ways to get at 'em. Ben's glass-half-empty musings are an understandable passing thought at a dark time, but he knows other doors are opening daily.

  32. Gentleman Jack Darby Guest

    @Lucky said:

    'But what’s the actual value proposition of specifically wanting to earn points or get a credit card with a major US airline, beyond just a free checked bag benefit, or something?'

    Certain cards are worth paying the annual fee, such as the Chase United Explorer Card. For someone with no status who checks a bag and wants early(ier) boarding, that makes it worth the annual fee. Beyond that, two things are almost always...

    @Lucky said:

    'But what’s the actual value proposition of specifically wanting to earn points or get a credit card with a major US airline, beyond just a free checked bag benefit, or something?'

    Certain cards are worth paying the annual fee, such as the Chase United Explorer Card. For someone with no status who checks a bag and wants early(ier) boarding, that makes it worth the annual fee. Beyond that, two things are almost always overlooked by the P&M blogging crowd: that card gives the holder access to additional award space, albeit rarely are they 'good' flights from a timing perspective or for layovers, but in some circumstances or for some people...

    I also routinely get great Chase offers on that card and over a year, I come pretty close to covering the annual fee. The points I earn from that are not worth counting, but the cash adds up.

    But you're right, most people would be better off earning cashback, the most flexible of all rewards, or earning Chase UR points on dining, travel, and quarterly bonus categories and converting them to cash at 1cpp

  33. James K. Guest

    Yeah it's not like it used to be, that's for sure. There used to be more competition in the US in terms of number of airlines, and fewer frequent fliers, and customer savvy was much lower.

    But end of the day, I alternate between American Gold and Platinum. Platinum means free MCE at booking which I find very valuable, especially if I have a trip in international Y. If I have any BA flights...

    Yeah it's not like it used to be, that's for sure. There used to be more competition in the US in terms of number of airlines, and fewer frequent fliers, and customer savvy was much lower.

    But end of the day, I alternate between American Gold and Platinum. Platinum means free MCE at booking which I find very valuable, especially if I have a trip in international Y. If I have any BA flights booked, it means I can choose seats for free which is serious value-added with two young kids. And obviously earning Platinum means I'll have a bunch of AA miles from the process, which have value unto themselves.

  34. Domenico Guest

    I've migrated a bit in terms of airline loyalty programs as they've all gotten worse, but to be fair I've also moved geographically and that factor into some of the changes. I grew up in USA then moved to Canada, UK, and am based in Italy now with frequent travel to all parts of the world but especially the Middle East.
    For years I was a United 1K and then left in 2012 when...

    I've migrated a bit in terms of airline loyalty programs as they've all gotten worse, but to be fair I've also moved geographically and that factor into some of the changes. I grew up in USA then moved to Canada, UK, and am based in Italy now with frequent travel to all parts of the world but especially the Middle East.
    For years I was a United 1K and then left in 2012 when Smisek made a mess of things to become a BA Gold (I also moved from Los Angeles to London that year). I stayed loyal to BA and Oneworld even after I moved to Italy. I got a Status Match with TK in 2017 which has been easy to maintain and then ITA (AZ) in 2022. In the past year I got status matched with AF and LH and I gave up on keeping my BA status after the changes to their program. Most of my flying is now on LH Group (including ITA) and Star Alliance as well as Air France and SkyTeam.
    But why do I still bother playing the game?
    I still like to have lounge access when I fly even in economy, and the EU carriers generally have this as a benefit.
    I also like to have priority rebooking when things go wrong, and this happens often enough that it's worth it.
    But most of all, since I find myself on planes very often, I like to have as seamless an experience as possible with expedited security, lounge access, baggage, board when I want (usually last call), etc for most parts of the world.
    It's not about the points and the upgrades for me anymore. I don't rely on those benefits. My credit cards are cash-back instead of loyalty programs. But do I still plan flights based on earning and using status? Sure I do. I've got to fly with someone and I would still prefer to maximise whatever benefits I can get from my flying.

  35. Gentleman Jack Darby Guest

    The best way to describe airline loyalty programs in one word is:

    "gachapon" or "lootbox"

    They're a gamble and almost all of the time the prize one gets isn't worth the spend or effort it takes to get it.

    1. DenB Diamond

      Nope. If you buy LifeMiles instead of paid tickets, your travel gets way cheaper. Book last-minute.

  36. Brad Guest

    I’m currently elite on all 3 of the U.S. carriers and have been for years. There are only 2 reasons, to me, the status has value.

    1. Bonus multiples on tickets. The difference in what you earn per dollar vs. non status is massive.

    2. Preferred treatment in irregular ops. I realize this can be spotty but getting thru to better agents quicker and getting the nod on 50/50 situations is easier with status. I have many examples in my career.

  37. Jessica Guest

    SkyPesos are the most pointless points currency.

    1. James K. Guest

      Well, no they're not. They're like Southwest or JetBlue points. You can redeem them for more-or-less fixed value on Delta, and that'll save you a couple hundred bucks.

      Every so often there's some sort of outsized redemption (I did GRU-JFK-DCA in J for 95k apiece in 2022 but they closed that loophole) but most of the time they're just valuable in a fixed currency sort of way

    2. Throwawayname Guest

      They can work fine on certain routes, the other day I saw some 35k Y redemptions on Aeromexico from Europe to GRU. While I'm not about to sign up to spending 20 hours in the back of the bus, this would clearly be hugely helpful to someone needing to travel due to a family emergency or something. It's definitely more than $350 for that one-way ticket.

    3. DenB Diamond

      They're excellent for some flights which don't touch North America.

    4. Throwawayname Guest

      @DenB, that Aeromexico redemption clearly did touch N. America as it was via MEX! Not sure whether they'd give the same price for MEX as a destination though.

  38. hbilbao Diamond

    I was able to find some nice awards in the past year using aeroplan and lifemiles, but it was only possible due to my ability to take positioning flights on a short window of time.

    Moving forward, that won't be the case for me, so I wonder if I'd be able to enjoy my points as I used to. If I start losing points due to even more frequent devaluations, I'd be reconsidering everything for sure.

    1. hbilbao Diamond

      Forgot to add that I loooooooved your honest pitches, @Ben!

  39. Throwawayname Guest

    These concerns are not industry-wide, they're confined to the big US airlines and I think that they're closely connected to the structural issues of that country's economy.

    The job of a pilot is of course very important, but it doesn't really seem to warrant a salary in the order of $400k a year (which means that a single day of sickness causes losses well into the 5 figures even if no actual flights are...

    These concerns are not industry-wide, they're confined to the big US airlines and I think that they're closely connected to the structural issues of that country's economy.

    The job of a pilot is of course very important, but it doesn't really seem to warrant a salary in the order of $400k a year (which means that a single day of sickness causes losses well into the 5 figures even if no actual flights are disrupted!), in the same way as US stock market valuations don't seem to be supported by the financial performance of many/most listed companies (at the same time, I own some shares in a major, well-run, profitable European blue chip company and the P/E is barely higher than 10).

    It doesn't make a lot of sense to expect a piece of the economic landscape (airline reward programmes) to work well when most everything around it is distorted.

    1. justindev Guest

      @Throwaw...

      Nor should a CEO in the USA be paid the multiple millions they often are, yet I hear no one complaining about them. If said pilot is flying me - pay him $100M. Clearly your life is of little value to you. Mine and my love ones are priceless.

    2. eliashan Member

      First, they're not as priceless as you think. Each human life as a price, determined by the courts in case of a crash

      Second, it's a very loose connection (if at all) between pilot salary and flight safety. Following your rationale, I'd claim pilots shouldn't be paid the current 400k; they should be paid 800k so that they fly "twice as safe", right? Remember the pilot is on the flight too, and I don't...

      First, they're not as priceless as you think. Each human life as a price, determined by the courts in case of a crash

      Second, it's a very loose connection (if at all) between pilot salary and flight safety. Following your rationale, I'd claim pilots shouldn't be paid the current 400k; they should be paid 800k so that they fly "twice as safe", right? Remember the pilot is on the flight too, and I don't think he'd crash the aircraft if he was paid 200k.

      TLDR, your post was 100% bull.

    3. Throwawayname Guest

      @justindev , there are lots of people complaining about executive pay but they're mostly engaged in the politics of envy as opposed to querying the value added by the individuals in question.

      At the end of the day, if someone is responsible for managing thousands of pilots, why shouldn't they earn e.g. 20 times what a pilot makes? I know some airline CEOs may earn more than that, but certainly not 1000s of times...

      @justindev , there are lots of people complaining about executive pay but they're mostly engaged in the politics of envy as opposed to querying the value added by the individuals in question.

      At the end of the day, if someone is responsible for managing thousands of pilots, why shouldn't they earn e.g. 20 times what a pilot makes? I know some airline CEOs may earn more than that, but certainly not 1000s of times more. Ridiculous executive pay is just the tip of the iceberg within an economy in which capital is systematically misallocated.

  40. Erick Guest

    I think you have made it very clear that your priority on the programs is complimentary upgrades . But the industry has changed What other businesses are there were the premium products are complimentary ? It is not profitable for airlines to, and frequent flyer programs are not longer based on actual flying but spending .
    If you own a cobranded credit card , and you make one domestic round trip within the states...

    I think you have made it very clear that your priority on the programs is complimentary upgrades . But the industry has changed What other businesses are there were the premium products are complimentary ? It is not profitable for airlines to, and frequent flyer programs are not longer based on actual flying but spending .
    If you own a cobranded credit card , and you make one domestic round trip within the states and you check a bag, it is a no brainer , because the card fee pays by it self. Not all customers chase miles to book premium cabins , but just to book a main cabin flight anywhere .
    Also , once status is reached , you can select extra space seats in coach that are usually sold around 40-60 usd per leg and it comes with complimentary beverages ( las time I check a beer is 9-10 usd . Also, status members get complimentary checked luggage’s on international flights , with has a great saving value.

  41. Tim Dunn Diamond

    The part that you miss and which is very much reality is that Delta along with a few other airlines including British Airways get such a high percentage of their traffic from corporate traffic and that totally changes the calculus of loyalty programs. Delta and BA and a few other airlines win the corporate business and DL's financial success - including from the loyalty program - has come from gaining so much more corporate traffic...

    The part that you miss and which is very much reality is that Delta along with a few other airlines including British Airways get such a high percentage of their traffic from corporate traffic and that totally changes the calculus of loyalty programs. Delta and BA and a few other airlines win the corporate business and DL's financial success - including from the loyalty program - has come from gaining so much more corporate traffic than its competitors. DL just said on its earnings call how much higher corporate traffic is up in its coastal hubs. DL used the pandemic, AA and B6' strategic wanderings and UA's EWR meltdown and its focus on exotic but insignificant destinations for corporate travel to grow its corporate revenue in the largest markets in the country. With corporate traffic, the passenger has little to no influence on the travel decision but gets the rewards.
    BA has long had the advantage from London and also uses its dominance of the London market to its advantage.

    As for premium cabin loyalty awards, DL has long been much less willing to give upgrades into Delta One than AA or UA - and it hasn't had to because of the amount of corporate traffic it carries.
    DL also just said that premium cabin leisure demand continues to grow faster than corporate travel - and that does come out of people's pockets but the status still often comes from tickets purchased by someone else. They also said premium leisure demand is sometimes more valuable than corporate traffic and part of their strategy to add more premium seats - including Comfort Plus - is to give corporate and loyal premium leisure traffic the best benefit at the time of booking, not at the airport on a standby list.

    The reason why so many can't see the benefits of loyalty programs is because they see them only as something to which they are entitled instead of recognizing how the airline's see them and figuring out how to create win-win relationships for both parties.

  42. Mitchell Guest

    I don't play the airline loyalty game and never have. It's a basic strategy, but since 2015 when I got into the rewards world, I only focus on transferable points on cards with great perks. Right now that means I do Platinum, CSR, and Bonvoy Brilliant, with a Freedom Unlimited for everyday spend.

    Every few years I'll take the points that have built up and transfer them to some foreign carrier for a first...

    I don't play the airline loyalty game and never have. It's a basic strategy, but since 2015 when I got into the rewards world, I only focus on transferable points on cards with great perks. Right now that means I do Platinum, CSR, and Bonvoy Brilliant, with a Freedom Unlimited for everyday spend.

    Every few years I'll take the points that have built up and transfer them to some foreign carrier for a first class experience. But I break even or come out ahead on the fees from perks each year. Keeps me sane and always confident I am getting value.

  43. Mick Guest

    I liked being American platinum for priority check in with family and the ability to book extra leg room seats for free at the time of booking for my family of five (in economy).

    Still plenty of availability in océania. I’ve flown a lot of flights to Asia and back using lifemiles and aeroplan. 36k lifemiles for 10 hours on ana biz. Comes and goes but worthwhile.

    0n the other hand trying to...

    I liked being American platinum for priority check in with family and the ability to book extra leg room seats for free at the time of booking for my family of five (in economy).

    Still plenty of availability in océania. I’ve flown a lot of flights to Asia and back using lifemiles and aeroplan. 36k lifemiles for 10 hours on ana biz. Comes and goes but worthwhile.

    0n the other hand trying to use sia miles of find cx space is a distant memory. Waitlisting sia first used to be so much fun. Waitlist a ton of awards and eventually get the sms thst space had opened. No more

  44. Harold Guest

    Yeah the delta thing you point out is really fascinating. It’s bleak on r/delta. Thousands of people complaining about high prices (but then booking anyway lol). Like Stockholm syndrome at this point

    As for the rest of your article- at the end of the day it’s a zero sum game and interest in this hobby has never been bigger. There’s also never been a bigger “upper middle class” in the US willing and able to pay for luxury travel so it all leads to slim award pickings

  45. Mantis Diamond

    Airline status is a total waste. The problem is that loyalty programs incentivize spend, not decisions. I'd guess the vast majority of US big 3 elites really don't have a choice about who they fly most of the time, as either they're hub captive or their company is buying their tickets. You're giving elite status to those who will fly your airline anyway, but not giving others any reason to even bother to pursue status.

  46. Ian Guest

    Agreed! I will never fly enough/spend to get a roundtrip international J for 2 at ~700,000 miles. I buy the J tickets I want, and usually generate enough flying miles from that for a "free" domestic trip. The airlines have done such a great job at monetizing their programs to 1 cpp that the flexibility of cash back far outweighs even a theoretical 1.1-1.2 cpp redemption.

  47. FNT Delta Diamond Guest

    I've had Delta's diamond status for 10 years. I'm also nearly a 2 million miler. At this point, the only reason I stay with Delta is my status matters when a bag goes missing, flights get canceled or delayed, etc. I've given up chasing status for points and upgrades.

  48. chris w Guest

    The loyalty industry's business model is all about convincing members they are getting something of value even when they are not.

    As long as the industry can keep doing that, these programs will continue to flourish.

  49. Ray Guest

    I see this frustrating industry-wide pattern, and I share your views, largely. However, as a multi-year Cathay Diamond status holder who found myself wondering if I should switch over to Singapore, I ended up staying. A few reasons:

    1. Recognition. I’m usually greeted by name by lounge staff at LHR & HKG, and they’d be quicker to help me with any questions or other concerns;
    2. Lounge access. The “Exclusive Retreat” inside The Bridge...

    I see this frustrating industry-wide pattern, and I share your views, largely. However, as a multi-year Cathay Diamond status holder who found myself wondering if I should switch over to Singapore, I ended up staying. A few reasons:

    1. Recognition. I’m usually greeted by name by lounge staff at LHR & HKG, and they’d be quicker to help me with any questions or other concerns;
    2. Lounge access. The “Exclusive Retreat” inside The Bridge lounge spells the difference between stress and some quiet time in busy travel days;
    3. Priority. For emergency bookings, or if things go sideways (e.g. delayed/cancelled flights)

    It’s easy to take these things for granted, especially as a frequent premium traveller. But if they’re no longer there, then I personally would have no reason to stay. The value proposition has changed from “earning & redeeming miles” to “they’re more likely to help me and do more if things go sideways before they turn to anyone else”

    My warmest to you and your family and a belated well wishes for Yom Kippur

  50. Andy Guest

    For people that sometimes but not always fly premium cabins, FF program perks such as priority check in (shorter lines at biz counters), priority boarding (getting to board with less stress) and lounge access (esp. outside the US) come in handy. Credit card sign ups are not a big thing outside the US, so you can mostly get those perks either through biz or FF status. But sometimes they dont justify irrational behaviour if ticket price is too high

  51. Tom Guest

    Personally, I used to spend $30,000 on my Delta card every year to get the MQD waiver and the MQM rewards. Since Delta changed to pure revenue, now I just put Delta spend on the card and keep it for the 15 lounge visit credits every year.

  52. CapitalMike Gold

    Rule Number one: Do not let any Loyalty Program influence your booking behaviour
    Rule number two: never pay anything to obtain additional miles or points or an airline status. Ever.
    Rule number three: if you want to fly Business Class to a certain destination at a certain date, find the best deal and pay for it. This will come cheaper than deliberately chasing miles or points and then needing to adjust, origin, destination...

    Rule Number one: Do not let any Loyalty Program influence your booking behaviour
    Rule number two: never pay anything to obtain additional miles or points or an airline status. Ever.
    Rule number three: if you want to fly Business Class to a certain destination at a certain date, find the best deal and pay for it. This will come cheaper than deliberately chasing miles or points and then needing to adjust, origin, destination or dates for availability.

    Be a member of all going loyalty programs and collect the miles as you go along. Own one or two useful credit cards as you would anyway and collect any points „along the way“.
    Then once every one or two years you’ll have enough miles/points for a booking for two. Chances are 50-50 that you’ll find availability for exactly what you had in mind.

    1. Throwawayname Guest

      How would 'rule number two' make sense in relation to the KQ status match? £130 got me a baggage benefit equivalent to €35-40 off each AFKL flight for a year even if I only fly them within Europe (if I just go as far as BEY/TLV, it's €80 each way!), plus typically 4 lots of lounge access per return journey. How could this not have been worthwhile?

    2. DenB Diamond

      Rule 3 is subjective nonsense. "Cheaper than needing to adjust"? Totally subjective. Following these rules is NOT cheaper, for me, than my rule: I never buy airline tickets. I acquire cards and Welcome Bonuses, spend bonuses. If I'm low on points, I'll buy points, but never cash tickets. I book nearly all air travel in the week before travel, often in the 36 hours before travel, including the homebound flight when abroad. If you insist...

      Rule 3 is subjective nonsense. "Cheaper than needing to adjust"? Totally subjective. Following these rules is NOT cheaper, for me, than my rule: I never buy airline tickets. I acquire cards and Welcome Bonuses, spend bonuses. If I'm low on points, I'll buy points, but never cash tickets. I book nearly all air travel in the week before travel, often in the 36 hours before travel, including the homebound flight when abroad. If you insist on booking 2-3 months ahead and flying on your most convenient day, I promise you're paying a premium for that.

    3. CapitalMike Gold

      You are actually supporting my case in point. With your kind of "last minute" booking behaviour, you obviously never travel in high season, such as school holidays, Christmas/New Year and Easter or on routes which are so busy that they likely sell out. If you don't mind flying to alternative destinations on inconvenient dates, then go for it!

    4. AeroB13a Diamond

      One cannot decide if you are the sort of traveler who fails to plan, or, simply plans to fail old bean?

    5. James K. Guest

      Rule number three: if you want to fly Business Class to a certain destination at a certain date, find the best deal and pay for it. This will come cheaper than deliberately chasing miles or points and then needing to adjust, origin, destination or dates for availability.

      That's a pretty silly rule, Mike. I'm a family of four. If I want to go to Asia, that's going to cost bare minimum $20,000 to pay cash....

      Rule number three: if you want to fly Business Class to a certain destination at a certain date, find the best deal and pay for it. This will come cheaper than deliberately chasing miles or points and then needing to adjust, origin, destination or dates for availability.

      That's a pretty silly rule, Mike. I'm a family of four. If I want to go to Asia, that's going to cost bare minimum $20,000 to pay cash. Definitely cheaper to change my dates by a day or two, or add a connection.

    6. AeroB13a Diamond

      CapitalMike, I concur, wholeheartedly.

      One came to this website to find out if I was about to miss anything once I finally retired. For the past two decades I had traveled the world at the behest of my masters. At least one and occasionally two or even three intercontinental F/J return flights per month.

      Our personal flights are now always Middle or Far Eastern destinations, in F, starting from the right side of the...

      CapitalMike, I concur, wholeheartedly.

      One came to this website to find out if I was about to miss anything once I finally retired. For the past two decades I had traveled the world at the behest of my masters. At least one and occasionally two or even three intercontinental F/J return flights per month.

      Our personal flights are now always Middle or Far Eastern destinations, in F, starting from the right side of the pond. These personal flights were booked through a travel office and heavily discounted due to the buying power of my masters. Believing that this privilege might be withdrawn upon retirement prompted my external enquiries, including this medium.

      Like you Mike, I have concluded that the Airline Loyalty Programs are about as much use to me as rocking horse manure would be to a gardener. To add further to my belief, my past masters have offered to continue to allow me to book our personal flights through their good offices. Loyalty rewarded perhaps?

    7. This comes to mind Guest

      "Rule number two: never pay anything to obtain additional miles or points or an airline status. Ever." In very rare cases (none in my experience) I contend it would be worthwille to spend, say, $1 to cross a status threshold. Make an online purchase that gives you rnough miles to avoid baggage fees next year? Sure. But, the basic contention is correct in my mind.

  53. lavanderialarry Guest

    I let my AA Executive Platinum expire last year, largely due to American having become a delay-prone mess, and a lot less reliable. I have taken more trips this year than in years past, mostly overseas, and flown Business of Premium Economy using points, and at a discount, with percent bonuses when moved, and its been a far better experience than relying on crappy, old airline loyalty schemes that don't really work. I mean, who...

    I let my AA Executive Platinum expire last year, largely due to American having become a delay-prone mess, and a lot less reliable. I have taken more trips this year than in years past, mostly overseas, and flown Business of Premium Economy using points, and at a discount, with percent bonuses when moved, and its been a far better experience than relying on crappy, old airline loyalty schemes that don't really work. I mean, who the heck wants to be loyal to a US airline anyway when you can fly better, and farther, on a partner airline of theirs up front?

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Evan Guest

As a very-long-time reader, I appreciate your candor on the subject. Other bloggers just want to keep the music playing because they're making a living off their hobby -- why sound defeated when you can pretend everything is fine? You're right, though: redemptions aren't inspiring for most people anymore. In 2012, I was single and took a whirlwind trip around Asia, hopping between Cathay First and fifth-freedom flights in Qatar Business. Now, it's about getting from point A to point B for free, even in economy to that wedding in Indiana. And flying my parents around in domestic first so they feel kinda special. That still means something, but its made me lost interest in far-flung trip reports on airlines I'll never again fly for free. It was good while it lasted!

2
Domenico Guest

I've migrated a bit in terms of airline loyalty programs as they've all gotten worse, but to be fair I've also moved geographically and that factor into some of the changes. I grew up in USA then moved to Canada, UK, and am based in Italy now with frequent travel to all parts of the world but especially the Middle East. For years I was a United 1K and then left in 2012 when Smisek made a mess of things to become a BA Gold (I also moved from Los Angeles to London that year). I stayed loyal to BA and Oneworld even after I moved to Italy. I got a Status Match with TK in 2017 which has been easy to maintain and then ITA (AZ) in 2022. In the past year I got status matched with AF and LH and I gave up on keeping my BA status after the changes to their program. Most of my flying is now on LH Group (including ITA) and Star Alliance as well as Air France and SkyTeam. But why do I still bother playing the game? I still like to have lounge access when I fly even in economy, and the EU carriers generally have this as a benefit. I also like to have priority rebooking when things go wrong, and this happens often enough that it's worth it. But most of all, since I find myself on planes very often, I like to have as seamless an experience as possible with expedited security, lounge access, baggage, board when I want (usually last call), etc for most parts of the world. It's not about the points and the upgrades for me anymore. I don't rely on those benefits. My credit cards are cash-back instead of loyalty programs. But do I still plan flights based on earning and using status? Sure I do. I've got to fly with someone and I would still prefer to maximise whatever benefits I can get from my flying.

2
Jessica Guest

SkyPesos are the most pointless points currency.

2
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