rbAA's post [link=http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum124/HTML/005502.html]here[/link] got me thinking about an alternative to frequent flyer miles: frequent flyer hours. The idea is that you would get 500 points per hour of flying time block-to-block. In practice, this would provide frequent flyer points roughly in proportion and amount to what we have now, but would provide instant remuneration for delays.

Your plane could be sitting on the ground waiting for a gate and you'd be thinking: Well, at least I'll requalify for elite this year without having to go on a mileage run.