Originally Posted by
StayingHomeIsBetter
Some thoughts... FOs bring little business to DL, otherwise they would have already risen above the FO level. Keeping a bunch of FOs on the books incurs administrative costs that could otherwise be avoided. FOs inflate the length of UG lists on the GIDS, adding to the perception that UGs must be hard to get... etc... etc. FO is just the "entry-level drug hit" to the FF program. If someone does not move beyond FO, then they offer no real value to the airline. [Not my opinion, just a suggested management attitude.]
Can't you pretty much get all of the benefits of FO except for (rare) complimentary upgrades with a $95/year credit card? Are FOs really offering no real value to the airline above that? (even considering that CC miles are bulk purchased money in the bank)