<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fparker1:
jb is an idiot. his writing is from the standpoint of entitlement. ff programs are a competitive edge for the airlines, hotels, car rental companies, etc. they are more than a reward for your loyalty, they are an information gathering tool for them. i have switched carriers several times and now spread my 'loyalty' among several carriers in all categories as do a lot of other people. </font>
I think you are wrong. These programs offer no competitive edge simply because evry carrier has one. NOT having a program would put a carrier at a disadvantage, but having one doesn't help attract NEW customers. If there were no programs, or if all the major carriers offered reciprocity, then everyone would fly on the most advantageous flight to their intended destination regardless of which affinity program they belonged to. That would lead to less connections, less handling, less runway, airspace and terminal congestion, and more effciency
leading to greater profits. Let each carrier recognize the other's elites! Or let each carrier codeshare on each other!