Frequent flyer programs have always been about racking up miles, but a new twist is throwing a wrench into relationships – the ability to buy your way to elite status.
Imagine this: You're inches away from achieving the highest tier in your favorite airline's loyalty program, a status that unlocks a world of travel perks. But the deadline looms, and a crucial decision throws your household into disarray. Do you prioritize your coveted "Executive Platinum" or risk the wrath of your spouse?
This is the predicament Gil Sternbach, a Florida CEO, recently faced. A mere 650 points shy of the coveted status, Gil felt pressure to spend his way to the top, a move his wife, Tracy, deemed "totally selfish." Their story highlights a surprising phenomenon: airline loyalty programs are becoming a hotbed of marital discord.
The culprit? Airlines like American Airlines (AA) are revamping their programs, making elite status attainable through credit card spending, online shopping portals, and other non-flying methods. This shift has ignited a new kind of competition – not just between airlines, but within households.
With both spouses vying for elite status, a battle over points ensues. Should joint expenses be funneled through one spouse's credit card to maximize points? This is exactly what Alexa Holloway, an animal trainer, discovered when her husband, Theo, became obsessed with putting all household expenses on his AA-linked card.
Alexa's story isn't unique. Brandy Frost, a neonatologist, admits to a "friendly competition" with her husband over AA status, a competition she usually wins. But a recent business-class trip to Brazil for Scott, Brandy's husband, threatened to upend their point-earning equilibrium. "I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me! I've been leading this whole year and now you're going to beat me?'"
The discord isn't confined to living rooms. A rift has formed within the broader elite flyer community. "Frequent buyers," who attain status through spending, clash with "butts in seats," the traditional frequent flyers who earned their status the old-fashioned way – by logging actual miles.
Frank and Jacque Disher, pool company owners who leverage their business expenses for AA status, faced online hostility when seeking advice from elite flyer groups. "The response from the 'butts in seats' contingent was swift and vicious," says Frank. They even coined a term for these critics – "AAholes."
While the strife might seem unintended, airlines are likely not too worried. Chris Isaac, director of AA's AAdvantage program, acknowledges the potential for "friendly competition" while tiptoeing around the marital discord. This program design, it seems, is a calculated gamble – one that prioritizes profit over passenger harmony.
So, how can couples navigate this points paradox? Open communication and a shared strategy are key. Perhaps consider joint credit cards or alternating responsibility for household expenses on points-earning cards.
Ultimately, the goal should be to leverage loyalty programs for shared travel benefits, not marital discord. Remember, a harmonious journey might be more valuable than the highest elite status.
