How Earning Airline Elite Status Will Change In 2017
Skift Take
Budget travelers may be facing a tough landscape for airline loyalty next year. But there are still a few inexpensive pathways to airline elite status.
New developments in airline frequent flyer programs through 2015 and 2016 have changed the way that travelers earn award miles and elite status in 2017, creating, for many, a harder road to qualification.
The changes concluded in August of 2016 when American Airlines became the last of the big three legacy carriers to move AAdvantage, its loyalty program, to a model that rewards passengers award miles based on the cost of each ticket. As part of those changes (and in line with competitors), the airline also included a revenue-component to elite qualifications.
