Elite status customers can cancel and change travel plans at will on many airlines without penalty, not too mention auto First class upgrades, no baggage fees,

Elite status customers can cancel and change travel plans at will on many airlines without penalty, not too mention auto First class upgrades, no baggage fees, priority boarding, special security line access, etc... A number of folks do mileage runs just to get this privilege... I always wondered why frequent flyers don't claim about all the stuff normal travelers face. It turns out they are exempt from the horrid experience.