Frequent flyer programs become competition for couples: WSJ

• Some frequent flyer programs allow customers to earn points through everyday purchases.
• Because of this, some couples fight over who gets the most household points.
• American Airlines told the Journal that “friendly competition is always a good thing.”

The couple is not in trouble when it comes to mileage status.

Loyalty programs like American Airlines’ AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles now allow customers to earn points when they shop with co-branded credit cards, not just on flights, so they can take their next shopping trip to the next level. Some couples even fought over who would get the most points. point.

For example, Gil and Tracy Sternbach, a Florida couple, told The Wall Street Journal about their interesting dilemma.

Tracy wants to jump from gold status to platinum status in the AAdvantage loyalty program. She told the Journal that she wants to catch up with her husband, who is only 650 points away from reaching Executive Platinum, the program’s highest status.

Therefore, Tracy thought it made sense to put all of her household spending on an AAdvantage-linked card from now on.

“I can’t deny that she’s right,” Gill told the newspaper, adding: “I don’t know if Americans even realize that they’re creating this conflict!”

“You certainly don’t want to sow marital discord, but some friendly competition is always good,” Chris Isaak, American Airlines’ AAdvantage program director, told Barron’s.

Passengers have come to value the perks and status they receive in loyalty programs, so much so that two people have filed suit against American Airlines, claiming the airline stripped them of more than 1 million total award miles.

An American Airlines spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.