Yes, such an idea as tieing mileage to fares may surface in the near future, and unless it surfaces at ALL the airlines, whichever one pulls this stunt on us will simply lose all loyalty business.......

"So Long " is the tune from me: I cannot and will not give my business to an airline that makes it so difficult to earn free trips. My time on the road is too valuable to me: I suffer the indignities of today's airport when I could drive, and I set up meetings in faraway places when I could just set up the teleconference equipment or do it by phone----- all of this will be my response if I don't get what the originator here seems to want to describe as improper.

I don't see it that way. I see it as a contract (unenforceable, yes, but a moral contract nonetheless) between me and ____ airline. I keep flying. They provide me with a certain amount of thanks. I keep flying.

When they pull the plug, SO DO I.

This benefit is just too valuable for myself, my staff, and everybody's motivation. If it's not there, expect my two dozen associates to be driving to any close meetings, and zipping the wallet for anything not crucial that's a planeride away. Oh, and they can FORGET loyalty. If they ever wanted to undo that and set us up as price hawks, fueling the "race to the bottom" (which the established majors would lose, and Southwest et. al. would win), just undo the frequent flyer programs........ Be forewarned; I speak not for just myself.

Have a LOVELY day.