How Airlines Quietly Changed the Frequent Flyer Game – Hint: It Isn't in Your Favor

Do you remember when flying long-haul meant racking up a ton of miles? Or the reassurance of knowing exactly how many miles you’d earn for that Chicago to New York route you fly seven times a year? (It’s 733)

Or for the avgeeks, taking mileage runs and calculating the cheapest price per mile just to achieve elite status?

But for some reason, the feeling of being able to game the system to your advantage has become a thing of the past. And we’re left with one question: Why?

Because almost every airline has quietly shifted its frequent-flyer programs from mileage-based to revenue-based earnings. This means that your points are based on the amount of money spent to purchase the ticket, not the distance flown. Meaning you, traveler, can’t use the same system anymore

How did we get there? And what can you do about it?

In the past, frequent-flyer programs rewarded travelers based purely on distance. The system was simple- you fly a route, you earn the number of miles that trip was. Hence the name miles.

This meant that regardless of the price of the ticket, anyone could gain status.

Travelers could strategically book low-cost long-haul flights, maximizing their miles without heavy spending. Sounds like a dream, right?

Mileage runs were common, where flights were taken in the lowest cost per mile routes, just for earning miles. It was a golden era for smart budget travelers and passionate avgeeks.

But this system just wasn’t working for the airlines anymore.

Economy of the past. Doesn't everything just seem better?

Today, airlines like American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest have all moved to a revenue-based system. Now, your miles depend solely on how much money you spend.

That means a business-class passenger paying $3,000 earns 10x more miles than someone flying the same route in economy for $300. Elite status, once attainable through strategic mileage runs and smart spending, now demands high budgets. It seems unattainable for the common man who prefers to save money while travelling.

It’s all about the profit margin. Simply put, there are a lot more people flying than there used to be, and there's no reason for airlines to offer the same rewards anymore. Airlines are maximizing profit through these changes. Frequent-flyer programs have become incredibly profitable—not just through flights, but mainly by selling miles to credit card companies.

By incentivizing spending, airlines now encourage passengers to obtain co-branded credit cards, significantly boosting their revenues.

This shift clearly favors:

• Big spenders: Business travelers, premium passengers, and high-ticket flyers.


• The airlines: Controlling the rate at which points were earned allowed airlines to “print points” and score big deals with credit card companies, whose spending also earned points and miles.


• Credit card companies: Banks now have a much more appealing deal, as they can promise their customers points on airlines of their choice.

And disadvantages:

• Budget travelers: Passengers who consistently fly economy or book affordable flights now earn fewer miles than before.


• Many loyal customers: People who spend more time on planes essentially are not rewarded.

Airlines continually adapt - making travel increasinly expensive.

For Average Travelers
This new system means:

• Fewer miles earned per flight


• Elite status is harder than ever to obtain


• Miles are becoming less valuable overall

But There’s a Silver Lining!
It’s not all bad. The smart traveler can adapt to these changes—here’s how:

• Use flexible travel reward programs (Chase, Amex, Capital One) to maintain value


• Seek out award sweet spots with airline partner programs


• Look for airline promotions and bonus mile opportunities


• Consider airlines that still offer distance-based earning, such as Alaska Airlines

Airlines have quietly reshaped the frequent flyer game—and unfortunately, it's not in your favor.

While this shift can make earning miles tougher for the average traveler, informed travelers can still adapt and maximize rewards.

Has this changed the way you travel or earn miles? Share your experience with us at heretohelp@fenexpoints.com