I don't know if I would go as far as saying they are giving stuff away for free, no matter how good the cost per mile to you, you provided revenue to the airline for a seat that could have likely gone unsold.

Loyalty programs, or more appropriately dubbed in England as "loyalty schemes", are the only thing the airlines have going for them now. As passengers we have put up with heightened security, more taxes, reduction in schedules, additional fees, more taxes again, etc. Without miles, the miles we already have invested plus our benefits would be worthless and everyone would be flying Southwest.

It is an unregulated lottery as we do not know the odds of winning, or if we could lose it all! Also hard to believe that Mileage Plus made money for United whereas selling tickets didn't.

All in all, I think the trend is to find one good program you like with an alliance or good partners and then have one back up airline you qualify on as Gold or Silver just in case. Should be a bumpy ride this year no matter what.



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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."