I’ve been obsessive about miles & factors for round 20 years. I can’t assist however take a second to mirror on simply how a lot this passion has modified over that point.
I’ve gotta be completely sincere, this passion isn’t as enjoyable because it was once, and in some methods, getting superb worth is tougher than earlier than. But it surely’s not all dangerous information, and that damaging perspective largely overlooks the methods through which this passion has turn out to be rather more profitable than previously. So let’s speak about that in a bit extra element — what has really modified, each for higher and for worse?
The miles & factors passion has gone mainstream
I received obsessive about miles & factors in 2004-2005. Or put in a different way, I received obsessive about miles & factors again when Delta SkyMiles may very well be redeemed for Air France top quality and Singapore Airways top quality (sure, actually… ugh, I miss the 747 #megatop!).
I don’t need to say that miles & factors had been some passion that nobody had ever heard of, however they had been positively much more area of interest than they’re right now. Sure, frequent flyer packages had existed for many years, and many individuals had been members of them.
However miles & factors and maximizing bank cards wasn’t part of our society in the identical method that it’s right now. I imply, simply take a look at the income that US airways are actually producing by way of loyalty packages, and I feel that can largely present you the way mainstream issues have gone.
What has contributed to those adjustments?
- The way in which we share info has modified — it was once that miles & factors and premium airline matters had been mentioned on web bulletin boards, whereas now there’s infinite short-form content material on TikTok, Instagram, and many others., making this obtainable to a a lot bigger viewers
- What we worth as a society has modified — youthful generations place a heavy emphasis on journey and experiences, and are extra keen to splurge on peak experiences
- The bank card panorama has turn out to be much more profitable for shoppers, making it straightforward for the common particular person to rack up precious rewards, get airport lounge entry, and many others.
- Premium airline merchandise have turn out to be much more flashy, which additionally will increase their attraction; whether or not it’s an onboard bathe or double mattress, these options actually make much more individuals
- Airways have actually simply turn out to be a lot smarter companies, they usually’re higher at monetizing their loyalty packages and different merchandise, so alternatives that current outsized worth usually get shut down
Miles & factors aren’t almost as enjoyable as they was once…
Maybe the clearest instance of how a lot much less enjoyable miles & factors have turn out to be is a take a look at my submit with 10 superb award redemptions from again within the day. Should you haven’t been across the miles & factors world for lengthy, I don’t assume you perceive simply received good the offers had been 15 years in the past.
For instance, Aeroplan would enable US to Asia top quality awards by way of Europe with two stopovers enroute for 120,000 miles roundtrip. In fact that’s an incredible worth, however what was even higher was the quantity of award availability.
Lufthansa top quality awards? They had been tremendous obtainable, whether or not reserving prematurely or near departure. And we’re not simply speaking one or two seats, however usually six or seven seats. Even SWISS top quality (which is now restricted to Senator stage Miles & Extra members) may very well be booked with companion miles, and was tremendous obtainable.
There was simply limitless potential when it comes to how far factors may get you. In fact that’s fairly a distinction to how issues are these days, the place even discovering Lufthansa top quality award availability inside days of departure is extremely difficult.
The resort trade was equally engaging, notably with Hyatt Gold Passport’s Sooner Free Nights promotion.
Then there was the world of mileage operating, again when the idea of income based mostly standing qualification or mileage incomes was principally remarkable. American Government Platinum standing for $3,000, whereas incomes a whole bunch of hundreds of miles, plus eight systemwide upgrades? Tremendous straightforward!
However after all loyalty packages have gotten smarter. There are fewer alternatives to get outsized worth, and there’s so much much less gamification. Loyalty packages have additionally modified their method to how they open up award availability, together with to companion frequent flyer packages.
Once I speak to a newcomer about miles & factors, it may well actually be form of exhausting to get them . Lately, a non-miles & factors buddy talked about how he wished to take his spouse to the Maldives, and requested if there’s any “deal” with factors
I believed, “effectively, Hilton Honors usually sells factors for 0.5 cents every, and you may guide the Waldorf Astoria Maldives for 150,000 factors, so it’s like paying $750 per night time, all-in, and that’s earlier than the fifth night time free.” He texted me later that night time (I’m impressed he was so ), and noticed that not a single night time within the subsequent 12 months had factors availability at that worth. Yeah, that’s not ultimate, eh?
…but it surely’s not all dangerous information for miles & factors
The miles & factors passion positively isn’t as enjoyable because it was once, for these of us who get a thrill out of the chase. That being stated, in some ways I’d say it’s extra profitable than ever earlier than.
what we didn’t have in 2010? Effectively, all these superb bank cards with huge welcome bonuses, bonus classes that may earn you 3-5x factors per greenback spent, and many others. Us savvy people had been utilizing the Starwood Most well-liked Visitor Amex for many of our spending, which had a modest welcome bonus, and earned one Starpoint per greenback spent (which may then be become one mile, with a 25% bonus for each 20,000 factors transfered). That was pretty much as good because it received. And transferable factors currencies? Effectively, they weren’t almost a sturdy or versatile as they’re now.
Talking of premium cabin journey, one of many causes that miles & factors had been so necessary again within the day is as a result of airways simply had completely outrageous pricing for his or her premium cabins. These days airways will promote you upgrades to top quality for tens of {dollars}. So sure, standing could also be tougher and fewer enjoyable to earn, however don’t even trouble, as a result of there’s not that a lot worth to truly having it.
Oh, and the caliber of airline merchandise and airline lounges we see these days? It’s on a very completely different stage than we noticed once I began. Again within the day, it was thrilling when an airline had angled seats in enterprise class. These days, many people will barely accept a product until it has a door and dine on demand. 😉
The way in which I view it, the technique for maximizing journey, and particularly miles & factors, has modified:
- Airline elite standing isn’t as necessary because it was once, given how standing has turn out to be a lot tougher to earn, whereas providing considerably much less worth
- Bank cards with huge bonuses and multipliers largely let individuals redeem factors as money towards the price of journey, probably providing good worth
- Loyalty packages usually promote factors instantly at an inexpensive value, which is usually a strategy to rating a deal on a premium cabin ticket or luxurious resort keep, with some effort
- There are nonetheless numerous superb premium experiences available, although the hot button is to be able to plan journey at any second
I feel that final level is price emphasizing. For instance, take a redemption on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives. It’s completely doable to guide with factors and get an incredible deal, even when there won’t be availability for the whole calendar proper now. Typically availability opens up in spurts, and that’s the time to lock in a keep.
Equally, individuals with Alaska Mileage Plan miles is perhaps pissed off by the shortage of Fiji Airways and Starlux enterprise class award availability, but every now and then we see the floodgates of availability opened, and you may lock in some nice itineraries. You simply must be able to plan at a second’s discover.
Backside line
The miles & factors world is continually evolving. This passion was very completely different in 2005 than it’s in 2025, as you’d anticipate (I imply, what hasn’t modified previously 20 years?).
There are positively a variety of issues that I miss, together with the alternatives for gamification, plus how obtainable premium cabin award area was on the time. Nevertheless, so much has additionally improved through the years — factors are a lot simpler to earn, in lots of instances premium cabins are simply priced fairly, and the caliber of airline and resort merchandise is on a special stage than it was again then.
What’s your tackle the evolution of the miles & factors world?
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