Originally Posted by
duyibest
This makes think why airlines invented this “mile” currency to begin with. They could just instead give you a cash back for flying more.
I guess these programs may actually make more money from you.
If memory serves, the frequent flyer programs came from an era where 75-80% load factors were the norm and award tickets were literally the seats the airlines were not going to sell for cash anyways so they figured they’d get more in terms of goodwill from frequent flyers than it would cost to do the catering for the ‘free’ tickets.
Originally Posted by
reft
It is worth keeping the points for just-in-case. Maybe you fly another airline, but get IROP'd onto AA metal with a Y fare - maybe you can blow 5000 or 15000 points to upgrade to the pointy end of the bird.
This. I’ve had exactly one non-Delta round trip myself since 2016 but when the perfesser’s parents were having problems in 2017-18, it was great having an award stash with United and a bunch of American GCs at hand because Delta was pricing out crazy high for last minute flights in either cash or miles.