Are loyalty perks getting harder to earn?
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Loyalty perks across travel and credit‑card programs are indeed becoming tougher to obtain, as many brands shift the focus from simple activity thresholds to higher spending or more complex qualification rules.
Hotel Loyalty Programs
- Major chains now tie point earnings to the amount spent rather than the number of nights stayed .
- Elite status still relies on night counts, but the value of those nights is diminished when points are earned at lower rates in cheaper markets . 🔗
- Booking through third‑party portals often forfeits points, elite night credits, and on‑property perks, forcing travelers to choose between direct booking benefits and portal credits .🔗
Airline Loyalty Programs
- Airlines are increasingly limiting elite‑status benefits, with fewer complimentary upgrades and more restrictive award‑seat availability .
- Programs are moving away from generous “one point per dollar” structures, as lower interchange fees and tighter earning caps reduce the overall points available to cardholders . 🔗
- Some carriers are eliminating basic‑economy reward options and focusing perks on higher‑margin customers, making it harder for occasional flyers to earn meaningful rewards .🔗
Cruise and Other Travel Programs
- Cruise lines are adjusting the number of cruise nights required for elite tiers, adding more status levels but often delivering fewer tangible perks at the highest levels .
- New elite‑status requirements, such as Aegean’s increase from four to twelve flights and higher elite‑mile thresholds, illustrate a broader trend toward demanding more travel volume for the same benefits . 🔗
- Air Canada’s Aeroplan overhaul raises the spend needed for top‑tier “Super Elite” status, further tightening the path to premium perks .🔗
Overall, the shift toward revenue‑based qualifications, higher spend thresholds, and reduced promotional generosity signals that earning loyalty perks is increasingly challenging across hotels, airlines, and cruise operators.
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BaldThoughts 5%
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Aegean Airlines’ Miles+Bonus frequent flyer program has historically been one of the most attractive Star Alliance frequent flyer programs, and one of the best programs for earning Star Alliance Gold status. Well, the airline has just announced plans to make major changes to status qualification. Not only will elite status become harder to earn, but the airline is also introducing a new top tier status. In this post: Thanks to the global alliances, it’s not uncommon to have elite status with an airline you don’t actually frequently fly with. After all, there are pros and cons to different
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From Distance To Dollars: Air Canada’s 2026 Aeroplan Overhaul Will Change How You Earn—And Keep—Status
Air Canada Aeroplan is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs. They have more airline partners than any other program, so you can find award seats somewhere and you can combine more airlines in a single award ticket than anywhere else. Aeroplan eliminated fuel surcharges 5 years ago after bringing their frequent flyer program back in-house. They had been the first to spin it off into a separate company and sell it two decades ago. And they have reasonable award rates (for the most part). Since they’re a transfer partner of most of the major points currencies in