After reading all the replies (up to 7/20), it appears that we have two teams playing on this field: one, those who favor the airlines and the other, those who favor the passengers. Now all we need is a long rope and we can have a tug or war. The passengers will win and then can use the rope to hang the airlines.



The basic programs are all designed to benefit the airlines by promoting customer loyalty, also known as preventing empty, non revenue producing seats. They have done that and are one of the most successful marketing programs offered in the past twenty years. Some, like AA with their ExecPlat, are now linking the program to revenue. I am not sure that I see what benefit the passenger gets from this but as I am not ExecPlat and never will be, I hope someone will tell me, us, just what grreat and grand benefit they receive beyond those for Plat, PremEx, 1K. I will hazard one guess: they will be greeted at the gate by a Special Services Representative,, made to feel important, and always moved up front if there is a seat. Pretty expensive way to get fancy treatment But everyone has free choice (there's the saint in me coming out again). As for me, I would rather have the money burning a hole in my pocket than in the airline's. Cheers.