A new essay in The New York Times argues that airline loyalty programs helped kill Spirit Airlines by giving its larger competitors an unfair financial advantage. It is an interesting theory, but one that collapses under scrutiny.
There is a kernel of truth in that argument.
The largest U.S. airline loyalty programs are enormously valuable. Banks pay airlines billions of dollars each year for miles distributed through co-branded credit cards, and those reliable cash flows helped the major carriers secure financing during the pandemic.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
