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The Points Guy - by Marc Rubinstein - Net Interest

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When it comes to frequent flyer points, I’m more of a saver. It’s daft: Points devalue over time like any currency and they don’t even pay any interest. But the thrill of refreshing a balance that currently exceeds 2 million miles makes up for it. This holiday season I added to my haul, flying to Vietnam via Qatar while also spending liberally on my British Airways co-branded credit card. The allure of oneworld Gold status for life, which I am 85% of the way to securing, keeps me motivated. A retirement of free champagne, flat bed seats and exclusive lounge access awaits. Frequent flyer programs are big business. Introduced by American Airlines in 1981, they were launched to bolster customer retention in an industry growing increasingly competitive following the US Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. “Using incentives was hardly new,” Bob Crandall, American Airlines’ CEO said later. Supermarkets were giving out S&H Green Stamps, buying customers’ loyalty with free toasters and vacuum cle

The Points Guy Inside the Business of Air Miles Marc Rubinstein Jan 12, 2024 271 17 Share “People are willing to pay anything for a free ticket.” — Apocryphal airline executive. When it comes to frequent flyer points, I’m more of a saver. It’s daft: Points devalue over time like any currency and they don’t even pay interest. But the thrill of refreshing a balance that currently exceeds 2 million miles makes up for it. This holiday season I added to my haul, flying to Vietnam via Qatar while also spending liberally on my British Airways co-branded credit card. The allure of oneworld Gold status

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