Most airlines give significantly more mileage for higher fares. A predominantly discount ticket flyer earning high elite status is likely flying considerably more trips to get there. And what about people who control travel for other family members. I buy tickets for my wife and kids, all of whom frequently join me on trips. While they might not earn higher tier elite levels, by getting my business, the airline also gets, by extension, this additional business, which goes with my patronage. In reality, most carriers are pretty generous with basic elite status. Case in point, the famous TWA, with its revenue based program, just sent me an Aviators Elite card based on my enrollment in a Thrifty car rental database, and I haven't rented from Thrifty in quite a while. So much for spending my money on TWA to obtain that status the regular way.