Originally Posted by
Xyzzy
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It is interesting to note that at the new earning rates a lot of people are going to find themselves earning more points from credit card spend than from flying. That's an entirely different angle to look at things from, and it certainly affects loyalty.
The airlines love to sell miles, but they are also keenly aware that the total miles in the wild represent a liability. By restricting the flow of miles from flying they have in theory increased the value of the miles that are sold to banks, car rentals, hotels etc. Delta miles should become easier to use and hence more valuable, and Delta can make more money from its frequent flyer program, I just don't see how it will fail.