The chopping of the mileage bonuses is yet another step in turning frequent flyer programs upside down and into one of the great marketing scams ever.
As we all know, these started as customer loyalty programs. We still get all those emailed offers for bonus miles on rental cars, hotels, flowers, etc. We all see the commercials to sign up for credit cards so you are quickly on your way to "free travel," or have the sign-up forms handed out on the concourses. Yet actually getting in a seat and flying is the one area where bonuses are cut. Just what exactly are we supposed to be loyal to?
At the same time, of course, CO and the others keep spewing miles while they are cutting flights and pushing load factors close to 90. They keep pushing redemption alternatives, but I don't want overpriced magazine subscriptions. I think I'm like most everyone else in that I want seats, but they are heading to extinction.