Originally Posted by
RustyC
And so the question: Should DL, UA and soon AA still be calling them "miles?" Or is that now a misleading term left over from a system that no longer exists?
I think they need to change it. Points, AirRupees, SkyPesos, or invent a term.
This is more than just semantics. If they have to describe it with a new term then it serves as a reminder that things have fundamentally changed (which they have). There's also stiff competition on the credit-card front from points-based programs like US Bank and CapitalOne, so the giant banks with "miles"-based cards may resist it, as they've essentially bought exclusive rights to convert purchases into "miles" directly within the program.
You don't seem to realize that
Capital One calls their points program "miles", and that has even less to do with miles (since you only earn them from credit card use, not from flying, and since you can redeem for any travel, including hotels where you stay put).
Why complain about airlines which still gives you "miles" for flying (even if not necessarily 1 miles for flying 1 mile) when there are credit cards that claim to give "miles" when it has nothing to do with flying (or driving, or taking a train, or anything involving actual miles of travel)?
And Capital One is no longer the only one. Discover card now calls its own points "miles" even when they're basically cashback!
So it's obvious that there's no legal definition of "miles", and thus anyone can use the term however they want.
Meanwhile, are you aware that
you can still earn actual distance-based miles for UA and DL tickets that are purchased through partners, or that are bought in combination with something else (like flight + hotel or flight + rental car "vacation packages"). UA and DL either cannot or don't want to give you miles based on cost when the ticket was not bought (for a flight alone) on UA or DL ticket stock. So even in your logic, why can't they can them miles if you can still earn them based on the distance you fly, even if only under certain circumstances?
