I don't think showing up 10 minutes before the flight, smoking, keeping shoes on, etc., really has anything to do with FF programs, so take those off the table. The decline in the flying experience is a topic on it's own.

In terms of FF programs, I will say that I earned 700,000 points in 2002 by simply signing up for promotions targeting frequent fliers and taking about 90 flights. I was also tempted with status matches by other airlines. I used them to fly F and Y throughout the world with very little concern over availability.

I didn't have to sign up for credit cards, join a gym, buy coins, or go through S.P.A.M. machinations. I didn't need to pay to sign up for a "challenge" to get status. I didn't have to learn a foreign airline award tool to find awards, or deal with 20-30% award availability.

I've also been doing this for 20 years and agree with the viewpoint that FF programs have gone downhill *for frequent travelers*. Kettles certainly see the programs as better because they used to get nothing, now they get something.


side notes:
A forum to discuss in details the minutia of FF programs existed in the late 1990's. It was called Flyertalk.

Being told that FF programs haven't gone downhill over the last 10 years by members who joined FT 8-9 months ago kind of reminds me of my kids telling me how Justin Beiber has to be better than what I listened to, because Aretha, Stones, Zeppelin, etc., don't have 3D movies on DVD

Emily Litella is older than jumping the shark.