Originally Posted by
seadog83
These programs are not about loyalty any more, they're just about having another way to squeeze customers, hopefully convincing them to part with money they wouldn't otherwise, on the promise of giving a few percent of it back.
Do you have to pay more these days if you're a frequent flyer?
If you don't like loyalty programs (which is totally understandable), then just don't use them. These days brand loyalty in commercial aviation is IMO a myth: Most passenger look at the price tag rather than the operating the route.