Some programs are based on $ - to a greater or lesser extent.

Virgin Blue velocity is directly tied, earn 6 points per $ and award costs are related to the price of paid tickets.

Lufthansa Miles and More has a wide range in earning between discounted economy (as low as 12.5%) through to first (300%). Their top status, HON Circle, can only be earned on closely related airlines and requires so many miles (600k in 2 consecutive calendar years) that for practical purposes means a lot of paid first and business flying.

Air NZ Airpoints is loosely tied to spend with fixed airpoints dollars earning rates that vary by route (rates roughly consistent with fares so eg NZ to US earns more than similar distance NZ to asia) and steeply by fare (deep discount economy earns nothing, discount economy 50% or less, through to first 300% or even 400%).

Singapore Airlines PPS program is special status based only on paid first and business class on SQ flights.

United GS program is special status based on $ spent on United fares.


As you can see, some of these are not strictly based on $ but rather highly correlated.