They get the frequent-flier points.

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.

I've been to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America -- 15 times on my frequent flier miles,

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

[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.

The tour is not to collect frequent flier miles. It's a special gesture from the host nation.