FF inflation in 2004?
 

Has any one heard of airlines increasing the miles needed to get a ticket or making it harder to earn miles? I read in either Business Week or Money that this may happen.

I belong to Southwest's Rapid Rewards and this has already happened. This year they have increased their Visa redemption from 1 credit for $1000 to 1 credit for $1200. Additionally they are watering down their online credit from 4 credits for a RT to 3 credits for a RT.

Any insights?

Delta has announced higher point values for most awards.

Please see also Monetarism, Point Inflation, and the Coming Devaluation and Randy, have you changed your mind about mileage devaluation?

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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets

Thanks gleff. As I don't fly Delta, I wasn't aware of there devaluation. It is happening but I hope United keeps it the same.

HP has done the same on domestics.

This FFer hopes not to Inflate too much in 2004. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

AA has actually made it easier to achieve elite status and the awards levels haven't changed.

CO went out of its way to make it so I can't do another trip from BKK to CNS on only 25K miles as was done at the height of the SARS thing by creating a distinct award category and DOUBLING the mileage required to 50K now. But it affects so few people that it probably cost a lot more to program and administer than they'll ever save from it (such trips require overnights in GUM and had been near-impossible to book anyway).

More generally, I think we might see RuleBuster, SkyChoice, etc., being used to do most of the dirty work. I think CO and EasyPass are still worst in that department.