Really, they don't. What we are experiencing is a hub concentration and combined with smaller aircraft and limited frequencies, things that most other airlines don't experience to the same magnitude.

What % of AS passengers hit SEA or ANC as an O/D or connection point on a trip? 75%? More? I don't know the answer, but it is not insubstantial. Some of AS' most lucrative pax have a hard time making top status, i.e., the last-minute West Coast and regional hops. The MVP/G qualifying levels are no easy feat for these folks.

I have no problem with adding a spend component as an additional qualifying method but not as another overlay component to the program, i.e. so the poor passenger that is spending $800 a pop for a last minute regional hop once a month has at least the same status as someone who is doing $250 RT transcons once a month.