This is just it... data....

Those that fly often (that does not mean 1 time a month....) run into others that fly often. When I used to cross the pond 6 or more times a month, I started making friends with other FFs that traveled as much as I did.

I also met other FF flyers at DL events such as dinners and concerts that DL would treat us to. While talking to these customers, I found out that FF program was just as important to me as it was to them. Almost everyone I met during my crazy travel years have left DL.

Even infrequent travelors care about FF programs. What the airlines have learned, if they all lower the value of the their FF programs, the programs are no longer important enough to sway a customers decisions to fly on them. Even WN destroyed their FF program. Maybe if the govt would say, no you can not go into BR, just shut down as you can not pay your bills, DL would improve the FF program trying to get customers back?

Everyone I know that flyes keeps track of their miles. They would not do this if they did not care about FF programs.