Ask Mike: Frequent flyers
Hey Guys,
Some people like to fly. These people are crazy. The sane majority (of which I count myself a member) loathes flying. Fortunately, the frequent flyer ticket helps take away some of the pain. Which airline came up with the concept and how has it changed over the years? Here’s the scoop.
The concept of rewarding passengers for flying a particular airline was created by American Airlines in 1981. A well-researched (and loooooong) article from InsideFlyer.com explains that Bill Bernbach, then the CEO of Doyle Dane Bernbach (the ad agency for American Airlines), may have been inspired by banks that were offering its customers free toasters. He thought, why not do something similar for airline customers?
Originally, the plan was to give the airline’s best customers lower fares. But execs concluded that those lower fares would likely be matched by competition. After some brainstorming, they came up with the miles concept.
At first, airlines thought to reward their frequent travelers free upgrades to First Class. InsideFlyer.com explains that the “cost” of a free upgrade was originally 11,000 miles. Why? “Because American’s longest city pair at that time was Boston to Los Angeles, and they didn’t want travelers to be able to get a free upgrade after only two transcontinental roundtrips (10,444 miles).”
Things have, of course, changed over the years. The programs still exist, but airlines, pressured to increase profits, have added fees, black out dates, and other annoyances. Time magazine hosts an entertaining list of “20 Reasons to Hate the Airlines.” Number 5: “Frequent-Flyer Gimmickry.”
So, a question for all the travelers out there. Are you loyal to one particular airline because of their frequent flyer program? Or, do you go with whoever has the lowest fare, no matter what? Please leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in Coach,
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Calling people idiots because they don’t agree with your point of view will usually get you a violation on Yahoo Answers.
I’m loyal to Delta whenever they have a comparable fare to the lowest available fare. It’s not JUST because of the frequent flyer perks (although that IS part of it), but also because they’re the only airline that serves my hometown airport. To fly another airline, I’d have to drive 100+ miles east or west of where I live.
Being loyal DOES have its privileges. I travel enough to make the lowest tier of the Elite program each year. That allows me to check two bags for free, priority boarding (so I can put my carryon stuff in the overhead bins before they fill up), and an occasional free upgrade to first class (which I like, not for the free booze or the wider seats, but primarily because I can deplane first before all the little old ladies who don’t know what they’re doing stand up in the aisle only to remember that they put their carryon in the overhead bin six rows back).
I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but recently I flew another airline (because the fare was significantly lower than Delta’s out of my hometown) and was brutally reminded when I was in Boarding Group 7, that I really did appreciate the “first dibs on the overhead bins” and the waiver of checked baggage fees.
So yeah, I hate the airlines’ gimmickry. I don’t ever think I’ll redeem my miles for a free ticket (that I have to pay up to $100 for), but instead, I’ll use it to upgrade to business class sometime when I’m going on a long-haul trip with the family.
Plus, without the knowledge I’ve gained as a frequent flyer with nearly 1,000,000 miles (unfortunately, not all on the same airline), I wouldn’t be able to rack up a bunch of “Best Answers” in the Air Travel category as I have.
I like to fly, and I feel a little insulted!
We usually try to go with Southwest or Jetblue. I have never had a bad experience with either. Southwest tends to be cheaper, and their crew always is telling jokes to ease other passenger’s fears about flying. It is always a good experience. Jetblue is a little more expensive, but it is a great airline. We tend to use Jetblue when we fly out of Long Beach for longer flights, such as Washington D.C. or New York. The technology in their planes keeps me entertained the entire way. These two airlines are my favorite and we will keep using them for their spectacular service and marvelous tasting peanuts
some people are ansane for doing airplanes just
to kill thierselfs on them.
but if people were that crazyi would have to pass.
i can not imagine why people do it!
Come on, try to look on the bright side, and it’s not hard to imagine why people could like flying. Take a look out of your window when you’re 10, 000 feet above the ground, that’s one reason.
I am afraid of heights. But i am always thankful for those people who makes navigation and transportation easy and quick.
bless you
I completely agree with John and Tater Salad. You shouldn’t call people crazy just because you don’t agree with them. I like to fly. You act like you are only talking to people who don’t. As if there is only a handful of people in the world who like to fly.
I like flying. I’ve been on planes countless times, and I still get excited to watch out the window as everything seems smaller. I also enjoy being at airports as they’re all so different. Not to mention you have the chance to meet all sorts of interesting people from all over the world on planes, and a lot of them have amazing stories to tell. So no, enjoying flying does not make you crazy.
I absolutely love flying, I can’t get enough of it. In fact, I think people who hate flying are crazy, and FYI, I am in the majority..
I always go with the lowest fare. This is why I am a member of about 7 different airlines’ frequent flyer miles programs. I feel that the only way a trip is free is if you earn the miles solely from airfare. So I never go to those links for those bonus miles (like shop on such and such website) nor do I buy miles. And I will never fly a particular airline just to accrue miles. I’d rather lose the miles (and I have sometimes) then try to somehow make the work out to be a free trip.
mike ur sooo funny man lol
It has been years since I have flown. My last trip was to Oslo, Norway and I must say that American did a very good job. It was the first time I flew first class, and never knew the additional amenitites were so lovely. I felt rather disturbed in some ways that people in coach, who were flying to the same destination, were not given the same treatment. I know it was about who pays more, but it’s not like the front of the plane is going to land and let first class people off hours before the back of the plane lands. Seems silly in some ways. I guess you do get what you pay for. I don’t cherish the idea of flying anymore because of the opportunity for sick-minded individuals to disrupt the entire flight. Also, it seems that the older I get, I need to control my space and time. If I have to travel – I’d rather drive.
I’m a big Southwest fan. Their Rapid Rewards program is the most simple and most generous: One trip earns you one point. So buying a roundtrip fare gets you 2 points right off the bat. Accumulate 16 points (8 roundtrips) and you get a free roundtrip ticket to anywhere SWA flies. There are lots of ways to gain points without flying — enrolling in their credit card, using partner sites (hotel, car rentals, etc.). If you’re a frequent flier like me, SWA is my first choice. I’ve been awarded probably close to 20 free roundtrips over the past 15 years or so.
I fly long distance to Asia, and I stick with the same group (STAR Aliance) they give me the most accessible time table, and choice of routes. This also had a great benefit (as ScottyDoesntKnow mentioned) of the free extra bag, priority boarding and bit more.
I am not the highest level in the club, but high enough to get most extras that I need.
Another great option, is that after 2 years of collecting miles, I was able to redeem them and we had a completely free vacation in Thailand (my wife, my kid and I) and all routes were made in Business class.
so yea, I think there is a point in keeping the same airline, gimmicry or not.
I fly often, and always go with the cheapest fare – if you pay extra to get mileage, then in the end you’re just paying in advance for that “free” flight that you eventually earn.
Some programs are bad value for money (Skyteam and OneWorld, for example) but I find Star Alliance and Emirates to be better value, and I fly often enough to have enjoyed free flights and lounge access with them.