Originally Posted by
lwildernorva
I do suspect that his recent ranting about revenue-based programs, something I wouldn't be crazy about either, arises in part from the hit his award booking business would take. Not too many tricks in a revenue-based program that would make his services worthwhile.
What would REALLY hurt the award booking business would be airlines' significantly improving their websites to make it easy for Joe/Jane Average Person to a) find all available award space for that particular airline and its alliance partners on any particular date and b) allow all awards to be bookable online. Right now booking an award ticket on most airlines is more cumbersome than it has to be.
And, healthcare plans have moved to a "cafeteria" model. I don't know why airline FF programs couldn't structure their programs so as to make money off them. I just don't know if there's any particular incentive yet for airlines to do so.
Maybe the added complexity of administering a cafeteria-style plan has made them hold back for now? A plain-vanilla plan is easier to set up and run, although it might not make the users as happy as a FF plan that could be tailored to reflect individual preferences.