Originally Posted by
GUWonder
I game this game pretty well and better than most; and yet I don't fear that every kind of disclosure would equally undermine (if undermine at all) my ability to game this game as every other kind of disclosure requirement may.
I know we're well into a hypothetical realm here, so I'll just speculate: I suspect that if the government scrutinized FFP's closely, they'd want a lot more transparency and metrics about all of the programs. A quasi-balance-sheet, in mileage terms, from major programs. There would be a natural tendency to examine accounting and reporting practices, and there might even be a push to define fliers' rights (legally) with regards to their miles. That leads us to a place where miles are treated more like property, like a currency.
Even if we stop short of taxation of miles (which is where this discussion often leads), I think it could lead to "flatter" programs where 1 mile translates to a fixed discount against future travel. (In other words, the Southwest program.)
All done with good intentions on the part of those seeking change, but change that doesn't necessarily benefit those who already know and play today's programs very well.
Fully recognize that this isn't the only possible outcome...it's just one outcome that gives me pause whenever we have a thread about expanding oversight, often done with the thought that fliers should legally "own" their miles.
Originally Posted by
Venabili
You do not provide a number, you do not get miles. What's the problem?
If they want to enroll you every time to give you miles, just forget for the the number and you are all set.
Noone is forced to get or use miles - you can simply fly and not care about the FFPs...
But you're forced to
buy them. Every time you fly. Very, very limited exceptions on U.S. carriers.
Originally Posted by
pragakhan
I think he is saying there are unpublished fares that are cheaper that do not provide FF benefits. If they offered these fares to the public, Kettle Jim and Jane might buy them as might businesses start to require you buy them. Thus the FF+ fares become more expensive because the once a year flyers aren't helping support it. Which is why, I think more businesses don't offer sans-benefit pricing... It hurts their programs..
Indeed...I was mainly thinking of "suboptimal users" opting out of the programs, thus halting their subsidization of my long-haul F award, eventually leading to the cost of that F award to me going up in one or more ways. But give our clients/employers the option to *not* pay for our miles, and yes, you can see where that's going rather quickly...
Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Also in the 1960s and before. But a FFP before the 1970s? Don't recall that, even as frequent buyer/customer programs have been around long before that -- along with concerns about frequent buyer/customer programs opersting like Ponzi-schemes or otherwise having sustainability concerns.
Green Stamps!