3F’s for U

False Frequent Flyers

Why is it that there are so many airline frequent flyer credit card programs available now?  Road warriors and regular travelers have forged their brand allegiances grinding out weekly cross country commutes and regular airport journeys to ascend in their club’s frequent flyer statuses, only to now be trumped by business owners and heavy spenders beating the original system.  The goal of ascending to the upper medallion tiers or airline clubs to finally have a chance at a seat where you can actually get some rest, be provided with some snacks, check bags for free or imbibe in the provided spirits is diminishing in value.  The definition of an actual frequent flyer is going out the proverbial window as 'status' is now achieved in other ways.

 

The airlines have stretched their methods to increase revenues far and wide and have embarked upon partnerships with financial institutions to get the less frequent travelers to pay annual banking fees in order to be rewarded with tradeoffs of short domestic tickets for annual fees and jump the true frequent flyers to get the last few upgrade seats available.  This is only going to increase over time as these airline companies continue to penetrate the credit card industry.  If they want to give away free trips that’s up to them and I'm all about companies leveraging new ways to generate revenue, but to count them in the same groups as true frequent flyers is a tough blow to take. Why not rename all of the programs to 'points clubs' as they are no longer frequent flyer programs.

  The frequent flyer system has always been tough with annual renewal goals and miles expirations, but it is becoming much more of a mirage at this point.  With the intensity of in-flight, online and tv advertising to subscribe to all of the airlines' credit cards the days of true frequent flyer upgrades are doomed.  The opportunity for upgrades and the perks for frequent travelers is really changing.

Sad days are ahead for the frequent flyer.

 

 

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