Originally Posted by
airzim
I'm walking into this with eye wide open.
You also make a nonsensical argument. DL and UA are very clearly converting their programs from a loyalty program to a rewards programs. They can't reward their best customers given their current structures of their programs. For too long they have rewarded loyalty with miles and the associated perks. The side effect is diluted benefits to the customers they want to reward the most. This isn't rocket science.
Problem is they keep cutting the benefits for those that they want to reward the most. And also jacked up the redemption rates for *A premium cabins. So yes, you may be getting more miles for your dollar, but it's also costing you nearly double or more miles for that same award.
Not exactly a win.
The fact that people on this website, which is specifically designed to help people maximize airline benefits at the lowest possible cost, are complaining the loudest is not surprising. Everyone should have seen this coming.
You clearly don't understand FT then. Yes people talk about getting the most for as little as possible, but it's ignorant to say we're all cheap. Many people are HVFs too who just want some semblance of the perks they used to get. Hell, you don't even get a first class experience on UA anymore even if you pay for it.
People saw it coming on UA because DL did it first. Only problem with UA's implementation is that it keeps cutting everything while DL is at least improving their onboard offerings. DL may be a bit stingier, but if you get better entertainment, comfort and food on board, people are more willing to put up with it. UA, on the other hand, just keeps demanding more while offering less and less every year. You can't even argue that it's a reward program because they don't see it that way. They see it as something they HAVE to do, and would gladly get rid of it if they could get away with it. Of course, they can't do that overnight, so it's dying a slow death.
In the meantime, keep enjoying what perks you get while flying on OPM. It's always easy to cheer when it doesn't cost much personally.