Actually, I was asking about annual membership, rather than the rate of inflation on lifetime memberships.

I've always joined the AC, because I fly domestic coach most of the time. My international flights are just for vacation, so I can use my plat status for that. So the annual fee for membership is a no-brainer, compared to the day pass.

But, I'm 37 years old, I will likely continue to fly a lot for work, it will almost certainly remain domestic travel, and although paying over $5,000 for lifetime membership might seem like a lot, I may be one of the few people for whom it's worthwhile.

So, I'm just trying to calculate how long it would be before it paid for itself, and the inflating cost of membership is a consideration.

So, if AC annual membership fees are going to double in the next ten years, it's a factor to consider...means I'd have it paid off long before the fifteen years or so that I'm estimating.