A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
Look at USA legacy carrier annual financial reports. Typically they report the number or value of miles outstanding. Rough numbers of FF members, active members, and elites at various levels seem to be known. Sometimes the number of annual redemptions is also published in special newsletters and other publications. You can also find numbers or value of miles sold to credit card companies and maybe company statements about numbers of miles earned annually by flying.