Frequent Flyer programs are what are generically referred to as “loyalty programs.” Their primary purpose is to stimulate customer loyalty, that is, to keep customers coming back to make subsequent purchases rather than going to a competitor. These programs typically provide the customer with some sort of rebate on purchases. These rebates are seldom in cash, and most often are in the form of vouchers that can be used as partial or full payment on subsequent purchases. Ideally, a voucher credit should be acceptable in payment on a par with cash, without restriction, but that is usually not the case. In an effort to maximize their loyalty effect and minimize their costs, the issuer of loyalty points, such as frequent flyer miles, will typically impose many restrictions as to when and how vouchers may be redeemed.
In the case of frequent flyer programs, only a certain number of seats are made available for frequent flyer awards on each flight, and often the number of seats so available will be based on the number of seats that are available as the departure date approaches. It is my experience that on some airlines booking must be made more than two months in advance in order to assure an award flight. If you desire a less restricted reservation, at least one airline, Delta, is increasing the number of miles required for an award flight. The normal number of miles for a domestic flight is 25,000, but few flights are available at this rate. If, however, you are willing o pay 50,000 miles, you can probably get the flights you want.
Considering the vast number of miles that the airlines have issued, it is probably safe to bet that this kind of “credit inflation” will only get worse as time goes on. The problem may be mitigated to some degree as the airlines recruit “partner” businesses to not only issue miles, but to redeem them, as well. But any such program that depends upon continual growth is a “Ponzi scheme.” Is that in fact the case with frequent flyer programs? It’s hard to say without detailed figures for each airline. The key question is, how long would it take the airline to fully redeem its outstanding issue of frequent flyer miles? The numbers that need to be looked at are (1) the number of miles outstanding in relation to (2) the number of round trip flights flown monthly or annually.
Another factor that bodes ill for FF programs is the fact that the competitive advantage that loyalty schemes are supposed to provide disappears when everybody starts doing it. Such was the case in years past with supermarket stamp programs like S&H Green Stamps, Top Value Stamps, etc.
One further point: is it proper to refer to frequent flyer miles or loyalty points as “currency?” Well, that depends on how you define “currency.” While they are to some extent transferable, they are not generally spendable. On the other hand, value can be obtained for them, but only from a limited number of entities, and only with restrictions. The technical and narrow definition of currency is “anything that is commonly accepted in payment.” On that basis, loyalty points, including frequent flyer miles, do not qualify. I would prefer to not muddy the waters with loose terminology, and would urge that frequent flyer miles be categorized as loyalty vouchers, not currencies.
Beyond Money 