Originally Posted by
pbarnette
Illogical nonsense.
Illogical nonsense.
Unless you are the single most unlucky person in the world, then you cannot possibly pay more over any significant span of time to stay "loyal". If DL sold tickets consistently for more than the competition, then they would either never fill the plane or have a product that even non-elites will pay a premium for. Either way, your "loyalty" can't possibly drive more revenue.
Let's say there is a DL elite.
AA has a ticket for $299 rt
DL has a ticket for $349 rt
Both the tickets are to the same destination
This elite buys the $349 ticket for elite benefits and a potential UG to F, rather than saving the $50 and flying on AA (despite a 17% difference in the two prices.)
Therefore, the $50 was derived from our loyalty to DL rather than price (for which there was a cheaper option.)