Originally Posted by
lwildernorva
Gary's comment that FF programs aren't S&H Green Stamps made me fall over laughing--because that's exactly what they are. A higher tech, contemporary version but Green Stamps nonetheless. My parents collected Green Stamps, and I'm certain that had the internet existed in those days, there would have been forums telling customers how to maximize their Green Stamp benefits. In those pre-wired days, however, if S&H made a change to their program, there may have been isolated outrage amongst customers but certainly no organized customer base to focus that outrage as you can have now with a travel forum or blogger readership.
Well sure. And the whole point of FlyerTalk and the blogs are to help people squeeze every last benefit possible out of frequency programs for as little money and/or effort as possible.
Which is what makes it so ironic when FlyerTalkers and bloggers complain that the airlines are trying to get as much money out of their frequent flyers as possible.
Now, it IS true that I used to have what some might consider an irrational/romantic relationship with UA. But to me, the relationship was perfectly rational: I weighed the benefits of being loyal to UA exclusively against the benefits of nonstops/cheaper tickets/etc., and found that loyalty was a good deal for me. As UA evolved its program that cost-benefit analysis changed and I am no longer loyal to UA as a result.
It seems to me that the FF programs are taking a similar view of frequent flyers: some are worth pursuing and keeping from a cost-benefit analysis basis. Others not so much.
Point being: it's not personal. It's business. And not just business, good business.
As someone who never buys a coach ticket, I think I might be a fan of the new DL program. And I think DL might be a fan of me. Once the dust settles I'll do a CBA and see if they made it enticing enough for me to go to them exclusively, or if i want to remain airline agnostic.
Because at the end of the day it's all a crass commercial transaction...in both directions.
This seems so obvious to me. But I don't see bloggers explaining this reality. Unless I've missed it.