Originally Posted by
pitbrian
Make sense for you or for the airline? If people are giving DL cash (whether via CC spend or flying) to become "elite", then I don't see what the problem is. That seems like the whole point of offering different levels of status- to entice people to depart with more of their cash in order to get to the next level.
But, there comes a kickback at some point. When I can't get elite benefits because of my flying due to people that aren't flying (or because of the inflated masses), I will simply do my flying with some other company that I feel fulfills my needs. Then, one large spender is gone. I am fiercely loyal BECAUSE of the elite program BECAUSE of what it is. When that goes away and it just becomes a method to get a free checked back, I leave. I certainly can't be alone in that category. I spend far too much time in an airplane to not get elite benefits.