The New York Times
Departures Magazine
Kiplinger's
Chicago Tribune
Newsweek
Entrepreneur Magazine
New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
Condé Nast Traveler
Los Angeles Times
Four Seasons Resorts Magazine
Some FCF members — typically domestic, frequent business travelers — do have a rational argument for loyalty to one airline. But for most the attraction is emotional, summed up in marketing’s most seductive promise: elite status.
But look, it’s an anagram of “astutest lie.” A promise that fails to deliver, except to those who feel status comes from a plastic card. For over a decade FCF has been the lone voice suggesting a different mindset. Don’t get sucked into elite status marketing. We are no longer a lone voice! Now just the loud voice.
Be a loyalty-free agent.
Be aware too, in relation to the traditional appeal of elite status, of the trends: The generally free- or low-cost domestic upgrades no longer have great benefit because First Class fares have dropped so much. You only save a modest amount of money for a massive amount “invested” with one airline — at an often incalculable opportunity cost. And what now of the trend to enforced spending? Once it was miles you racked up, now it’s dollars.
Systemwide upgrades for international travel have traditional appeal. But only top-tier elites get those, come with the difficulty of availability like miles (many FCF members report not being able to use their upgrades and just let them expire), and airlines are cutting the number given dramatically. Many members flying that much prefer the freedom to shop around.
Another traditional elite appeal being eroded by a trend is the soft ground perk: checked bag waive fee, priority check-in, priority boarding. But these perks are for sale now to anyone with a mouse or a touchscreen. Or a credit card with those privileges. When they start selling status it ain’t status.
Unless you have very good reason to give your loyalty to one airline…
Watch this space. The increasingly difficult requirements, now include Elite Qualifying Dollars. It’s a way of getting you to buy what they might give you free. Do not let the irony of that pass you by. Unless you have very good reason to give your loyalty to one airline, don’t deny yourself the upgrade opportunities that come with all the others.
Oh, here’s a sign of the times: American recently changed its terms and conditions on its website that it does not have to do a certain something. That certain something is expressed in a simple legal term mercifully free of legalese:
Act in good faith.
American’s terms and conditions now expressly state it does not have to act in good faith.
Credit where credit’s due though. What we do like about American is that they charge a small fee for elite upgrades. In the beginning, everyone charged for them. Now an American elite upgrade can be less than First Class fares but the line is a lot shorter.
It’s psychology. It’s smart.
Delta too has introduced Elite Qualifying Dollars. It’s a way of getting you to buy what they might give you free. Do not let the irony of that pass you by. Unless you have very good reason to give your loyalty to one airline, don’t deny yourself the upgrade opportunities that come with all the others.
And how is this for a trend: no free upgrades allowed on the most important routes. E.g. No transcon elite upgrade on Delta flights. Elite status is being sold out from underneath their most loyal customers. It’s the way of the world.
And are you sitting down? (You may know this.) Delta, the darling of anyone who wants to be somewhere on time, the King operationally, has removed from its website…
Award-pricing tables.
If you need to plan a way to spend your miles, good luck. The brazen removal of benefits, without any announcement, has become a Delta trend.
Where will it end?
United's introduction of Elite Qualifying Dollars is a way of getting you to buy what they might give you free. Do not let the irony of that pass you by. Unless you have very good reason to give your loyalty to one airline, don’t deny yourself the upgrade opportunities that come with all the others.
And how is this for a trend: no free upgrades allowed on the most important routes. Elite status is being sold out from underneath their most loyal customers. It’s the way of the world.
If you want to know what United is going to do look at what Delta has just done. United outsourced their strategic planning to Delta it seems. Who are kind enough not to bill them.
The arrogant trend away from transparency is a Delta specialty. Will United copy that too? We suspect so.
Be in the know with exclusive FCF Elite Status reports...
The New York Times
Departures Magazine
Kiplinger's
Chicago Tribune
Newsweek
Entrepreneur Magazine
New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
Condé Nast Traveler
Los Angeles Times
Four Seasons Resorts Magazine
Tod Cohen
The New York Times
Lawrence Pass, MD
Prof. Michael Beckerman
Departures Magazine
Kiplinger's
Chicago Tribune
Newsweek
Entrepreneur Magazine
Prof. Thomas Y. Levin
New York Times
Bud Collins
The Wall Street Journal
Paul Haggis
Condé Nast Traveler
Los Angeles Times
Ari Fleischer
Press Secretary;
Fleischer Sports CEO
Four Seasons Resorts Magazine
Paul Haggis
Prof. Thomas Y. Levin
Bud Collins
Lawrence Pass, MD
The Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Condé Nast Traveler
Los Angeles Times
Ari Fleischer
Press Secretary;
Fleischer Sports CEO
Four Seasons Resorts Magazine
Tod Cohen
The New York Times
Departures Magazine
Prof. Michael Beckerman
Kiplinger's
Chicago Tribune
Newsweek
Entrepreneur Magazine