Frequent Flier Miles: Yes, They're Still Worth It

A miles club is often untouchable and protected, even during a bankruptcy.

ByABC News
September 9, 2008, 2:44 PM

Oct. 29, 2008 — -- Because it's almost Halloween, let me share a childhood horror story: the monthly chore of licking pages and pages of S&H green stamps and sticking them in those redemption books. Ugh, I can still taste that ghastly glue

I was reminded of the stamps when I recently read that United Airlines is prepping itself to spin off its frequent flier loyalty program into a separate company -- following in the footsteps of Air Canada, which spun off its award plan in 2005.

You're probably wondering what I'm talking about. Here's a quick history lesson: green stamps, wildly popular from the 1930s to the '80s, were given out by merchants, like grocers as a premium to customers, who could then redeem them for gifts and household goods.

Starting to remind you of frequent flier loyalty programs? It should. Ever since the first modern miles program was formed -- American Airlines' AAdvantage started it all back in 1981 -- frequent flier programs have operated like the old stamp giveaway. The difference: fliers redeem miles for air travel instead of lamps, with no unpleasant glue after-taste.

As the airlines expanded by leaps and bounds over the past few decades, loyalty award programs were a perfect fit. The airlines had quite a few empty seats, and what better way to fill up this "non-rev" space than with loyal customers? Even better, the airlines could sell millions of dollars in miles to hundreds of businesses, like credit card companies and grocery stores that rode on the coattails of passengers' loyalty to their favorite airline.

So, what could a spin-off mean for your miles? Or, considering the sad state of the economy, what could an airline bankruptcy mean for your miles? Chances are, you will be OK.

That's because you're not the only one who likes these programs. The airlines absolutely love them, because frequent flier programs make money. Lots of money.