Originally Posted by zvezda
The airlines are trying to strike a balance between minimizing the costs of their FF programs on the one hand and maintaining an anticompetitive environment on the other. If airlines cut their FF benefits too much, consumers will start comparison shopping each time they book a flight instead of automatically going to the airline in whose FF program they are locked. Such competition is the last thing the major airlines want.
I can't speak for others, but as for me,
I already have!!! As a leisure flyer who has to pay out of pocket to climb the elite ladder, I've found it simply too much money today for too few benefits.
A few years ago when mid or top tier elite just about guaranteed free or low cost upgrades, I went out of my way to earn as much status as I could afford. But I'm not gonna pay my hard-earned dollars on more expensive premium fares and circuitous routes just to get "priority boarding" and luggage tags!
Today it seems that all the airlines are interested in are the full fare passengers, or those willing to pay a very hefty upgrade premium. Most airlines don't want to upgrade you unless you're flying an expensive fare, especially on international flights. And for those airlines that always charged for domestic upgrades, the prices have soared!
Well, today I've accepted that I now hafta sit in the Cattle Car. So now I look for the cheapest price, and maybe a few extra inches of pitch on UA or AA. And if UA and AA do away with the extra pitch, then I'll become a total "price whore," just like my Disney flyer friends!