Grant Martin

If American and Delta follow United in raising requirements to earn elite status, it could drive a whole new class of budget travelers away from airline loyalty programs.

For those who are willing to pay for access, Delta's SkyMiles Select program is a good alternative to flying the requisite miles to earn elite status. But it also sets an interesting precedent for paying for overhead bin space.

The new partnership in the works between Delta and Latam may drastically affect the way that Oneworld and SkyTeam loyalists shift their business. But there's still no timeline for when any changes will happen.

United's MileagePlus program is changing dramatically in 2020 to focus more on high-spend rather than high-mileage travelers. Translation: It's getting harder for frugal flyers to be elite.

The joint venture between American and Qantas is bearing fruit in the form of better frequent flyer benefits on both sides.

The loyalty linkage between Alaska and American hasn't been particularly fluid these last few years. Now it's getting even harder to take advantage of the partnership.

United's new points-based system for upgrading MileagePlus members should be more flexible and straightforward for elite travelers. Emphasis on "should be."

The addition of Mr and Mrs Smith hotels to IHG's loyalty portfolio will help the hospitality giant better compete against Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt for high-end customers. IHG Rewards members also can't be too unhappy about new luxury properties within their reach.

If anyone was hoping to see change on the horizon for Marriott's Bonvoy program, which has suffered its fair share of integration and IT issues, it doesn't seem to be on the road map. At Skift Global Forum in New York City, Marriott's chief financial officer practically doubled down on its future.

It's getting even harder to not be loyal to United Airlines if you are a frequent traveler in Denver.