EL AL hasn't changed its FFP policy for almost a decade despite of the changes in the industry. One of the reasons for not doing so , is not having an alternative. Now it does. EL AL has launched FLY CARD and set a significant set of benefits for those who choose to issue it:
• Attractive bonus tickets fares in most destination. EL AL will allocate more seats for bonus tickets.
• A very attractive conversion rate: NIS 250 = 1 Matmid point or NIS190=1 Matmid point if you issue FLY CARD PREMIUM- the most attractive conversion rate in Israel).
• More points for your flight tickets.
Surely you are joking. More points for flight tickets? You guys reduced the earnings across the board and then "make up for it" by giving back some of the difference to CC holders... AND you jacked up redemption rates significantly.
What does "not having an alternative" mean? El Al has one alternative that makes a lot of sense: switch from the dumb "matmid point" system to points just like the other 90% of the industry, or perhaps not , as that would show what a terrible value the program is.