Originally Posted by
otralot
As for other changes, inflation happens (can't say I like it) but stuff does tend to get more expensive over time. That said, the airlines have always had a reverse model to the rest of the market. For some reason, the cost of seats goes up as it becomes more likely they will be come unsold.
Yes, things get more expensive over time - but the cost of airline tickets has gone up and hence the cost to earn those miles has gone up - you are spending more to earn the same miles.
Raising the redemption levels - is a double whammy.
At least CO has not raised the standard reward levels - except the Domestic F - which is in sync with the higher domestic upgrade reward.
For those big ticket EasyPass BF - really only two types of people who earn enough miles to redeem: (1) Top tier Elite flyers and (2) High charge card purchasers. I still think category (2) is the bigger user of BF EasyPass.
The question is - has CO raise the cost of those miles which American Express and others pay for those miles? With inflation - those credit card companies should likely be paying more for those miles.