These programs are worth billions for larger airlines according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancillary_revenue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancillary_reven

These programs are worth billions for larger airlines according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancillary_revenue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancillary_revenue When there are billions at stake, it does not strike me as a stretch that the credit card partners would bend the rules to benefit their airline partners.