Frequent fliers are rethinking loyalty programmes and setting themselves free
Frustrated with changing airline rewards schemes, some travellers have stopped chasing status and adopted different strategies when booking flights and using credit cards
WHEN SuzAnn Brantner moved to Indiana from Los Angeles during the Covid-19 pandemic, she had been a long-time Delta Air Lines frequent flier, achieving the highest loyalty status the airline offered: Diamond Medallion. The benefits included expedited security screenings, priority boarding and top preference for complimentary first-class upgrades.
“I just always loved Delta,” the 50-year-old marketing executive said. She travelled every month because of her job and made sure to book all her flights with Delta – even if she had to make a connection and other airlines offered a direct flight. This made it easy to maintain her status.
But last year, when Delta announced it would be making modifications to its frequent-flier programme, Brantner began to question her loyalty.
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