The frequent flier programs could very well be a major source of financial liquidity for the key carriers that have significant programs.

They get the frequent-flier points.

[Frequent flier programs have made it easy to accrue frequent flier miles without ever stepping on a plane.] But what airlines won't tell you is that when you try to redeem your free ticket you're competing with 40 million other frequent fliers for the same ticket, ... We all want to go to the same place and there aren't enough upgrade seats to go around.

As a concerned citizen and a frequent flier, I am alarmed at what appears to be a real degradation in [Alaska's] service. Important customer service, like maintenance and safety.

The frequent flyer programs could very well be a major source of financial liquidity for the key carriers that have significant programs.

The frequent-flier programs really were extremely successful because they generated for the first time brand loyalty, which you never had before. It gives them the opportunity to charge a premium over the low-cost carriers.