Originally Posted by FlyingBeanCounter

I know. It is amazing how the airlines have us trained to beg for treats and tricks just for the minimal rewards they offer.

I will list the various arguments we will hear:

1. I am hub captive!
2. It is not that bad. I still get lots ouf upgrades! I just have to be creative in how I fly.
3. Status is still worth a lot! I use everything.

The fact is that there are lots of choices out there. The airlines are trying to walk a tightrope of maximizing revenue while maintaining the mystique of status. They try and do things like C+ upgrades and certificates while simultaneously trying to make sure they get every dollar out of a customer they can. Even when there is availability there is always someone trying to move to the front of the line using any trick in the book. Basically, whoever works the hardest gets the status, not the person who spends the most.

If I have to work to get something, it has less value to me. 90% monetization of F is not going to cut it. C+ is not that big a deal either. I have flown Y in the back often due to flight changes or last minute purchases. Big deal. After hundreds of flights all over the world I figured out that google flights is the airline killer. Find the best fare at the class of service desired and go. I am in MCO right now with my daughter. We flew here in Y in the back (no C+). I do not remember it. I forgot about it 2 min after walking off the plane. I do remember the lounge in ATL B - overcrowded on a tuesday at 2 PM.

Get me there fast in the class of service I purchased. That is all I need from them. They can keep their miles and other "perks". I would rather spend less time on an airplane then fly on a saturday night or at 5 am on a wednesday.