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The author completely overlooks complementary upgrades for frequent flyers. Frequent flyers are the lifeblood of the industry but not because they pay for a hig
by driverdan 13y ago
The author completely overlooks complementary upgrades for frequent flyers. Frequent flyers are the lifeblood of the industry but not because they pay for a higher class level. They earn the higher class level for free by making many lower class level flights. On domestic flights very few first class passengers are paying extra. International is different but still has a large number of free upgrades (depending on the airline).
- eroded 13y agos/complementary/complimentary This is a fairly edge case, that only really occurs on US domestic flights. The majority of the world's frequent-flyer programmes do not give space-available upgrades in the way that say American or United do domestically. The vast majority of those travelling in premium cabins (or their employers) paid cash for their ticket.
- davewasthere 13y agoAdmittedly my airline experience is not with US airlines, but space-available upgrades for our valued frequent fliers are very common in the rest of the world.
- eroded 13y agoCare to give an example? I am not aware of a single programme outside of the US that offers this.
- driverdan 13y agoYou're right, there aren't automatic upgrades on most international flights for those with status. But a lot of people who fly international 1st / business are doing so on redemptions.
- reeses 13y agoIt was an oft-quoted meme in the 80s and 90s (and possibly earlier) that all the seats on flights from the continental US to Hawai'i were reward travel.