Originally Posted by
sdix
In my mind the fact of the matter is that Airline Credit Cards and many others are now giving easy to earn sign up bonuses. 100K points/miles today is just not what it used to. All these unused points go onto the balance sheet so having travelers redeem outlandish points is their plan.
Once the traveller uses their sign up bonus I suspect they will never build up a sufficient balance to ever do anything else.
Which is in accordance with the plan. Lure them into the garden and then, when they feel “committed”, drain their mile balances for seat fees and other minor expenses. The flyer feels “smart”, while having no idea how they’re being diddled.
Originally Posted by
EXP100
Using miles for upgrades will rarely be a good value proposition. The idea is to get people to burn miles for open premium seats that might otherwise be used for complimentary upgrades. There will be some takers, just like the very few that bite on a $1003 upgrade charge for MIA/DCA.
I suspect it’s more premium seats WITHIN the economy cabin for non-status recreational flyers. That 100k signup bonus might fund a domestic upgrade or three, but after that, the slow accumulation rate of most occasional flyers will encourage them to spend their small balances in dribs and drabs, mainly on a Preferred or MCE seat on the family vacation.
What will confirm that will be an expansion of MCE options.