The Cost of Loyalty in the Lockdown-Fare Era

Allegiance to the brag? Loyalists are getting less, with up to $400 fare differences for the same route and cabin on domestic flights, elites should be shopping, not hoping.

Archibald Alec Leach became Cary Grant. Eric Arthur Blair became George Orwell. Marion Morrison became John Wayne. I’m almost positive Elite Status used to have a name like “Loyalty Stinks” but they changed it to make it sound better.

Elite Status is a constant tale of devaluing woe. And while this isn’t the first time we’ve had a crack at the elite system, it bears repeating right now because the difference between being an elite – and locked into just flying with that airline – and being a loyalty-free agent (able to go with the best value, or schedule, or both, on a per-trip basis) is particularly stark.