Since late 2019 I’ve booked, canceled, and re-booked the same trip five times using frequent flyer miles. And that process has illustrated a lot of important conclusions about the process — both earning miles and using them. I was concentrating on flying business class to and from Europe from my home in Oregon, but I checked other options along the way. Clearly, with all the variables involved, I can report only my own experience, but I think some conclusions are broadly representative of what anyone would find.
1. Miles Do Not Improve With Age.
The value of a frequent flyer mile is inexorably declining. During each of my five successive tries for the same trip, I found that the lowest-mile mileage requirement kept increasing and itinerary options kept getting worse — in both business and economy. I expect the devaluation of miles to continue indefinitely….