this all makes sense, thanks!
Originally Posted by
WingedWorldExplorer
but then its not a Loyalty Program anymore but simply a mileage $$$$ purchase equivalent.
fair point — although airlines are incentivizing that behavior more and more by making their loyalty tiers revenue-based. I’m just about to hop on a UA flight and realizing renewing silver would be a matter of dumping money and not true loyalty. My true loyalty is to Flying Blue and SkyTeam, which I’ve flown religiously for years. United Silver is also not that big of a deal. If I’m flying with my partner, most of the times we can’t get adjacent E+ seats for free at check-in so that benefit becomes moot. I usually fly UA domestic and with just a carry-on so free baggage is seldom if ever used. It still doesn’t feel great to have spent money on them with no return for next year but so it goes.