For frequent flyers, the promise of upgrades was once a cornerstone of airline loyalty in the USA, but for most, that promise has eroded into frustration and cynicism. It’s time to fundamentally rethink upgrades once again.
I largely agree with the argument laid out by View From The Wing: airlines have hollowed out the promise of complimentary upgrades without replacing it with anything meaningful. The result is a widening disconnect between what elites are told to expect and what they actually experience.
In my own flying, complimentary upgrades have become so unreliable that I stopped factoring them into my decision-making entirely. My rule is simple now: if I want first class, I buy it. That mindset has been liberating, but it is also an indictment of how loyalty programs currently function.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
