Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Rowley, MA / Edgartown, MA / Christiansted, St. Croix (USVI)
Programs: UA LT GS/4.96MM, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓, Korea SeS, APEC
Posts: 579
Why are they reducing the benefits of the MileagePlus program? Because the level of competition has been reduced through the various mergers. Plus, most people book United out of habit or because the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. And yes of course, because it’s the cheapest or most convenient.
Air travel has become mass transit, a commodity. Basically loyalty program are window dressing with the exception of the very top spenders (Global Services) who keep the front cabin filled. With a credit simple card fee of $75 or a E+ subscription for a few hundred you get most of the benefits.
if you can get beyond the emotional need for status and apply some creativity in choosing your credit card the loyalty programs offer little advantage.