IMHO, the essence of the FFPs is bribery--and it works!

The programs are pretty much designed to influence heavy business travelers (who usually are not paying for the tickets) to choose one carrier over the others by giving them valuable stuff such as free tickets that they do not have to pay for.

FFP programs are anti-competition and anti-consumer. Don't compete on price or quality, instead, lock-in customers with miles. FFP are one reason US airlines have gotten so very lousy.

Why do I get to fly F to India for free (more or less) when my grandmother (hypothetically) has to pay big bucks to go coach?