@happypill wrote:
You fly 60 times a year on Spirit/Frontier? Ouch. People who fly as frequently as you do can generally get great value from the major airline reward programs (you're their target audience and they will treat you like royalty). You could make lifetime million miles in 3-4 years. Definitely agree that you should check out some of the blogs for the best strategy.
I love Spirit. LOVE them. I keep track of all of the airfare options whenever I book and I know I save 5 figures a year flying Spirit (or Frontier).
I recently did a 2 day round-trip on Spirit for $78 total. $39 each way. Every other airline was a minimum of $230 ($115 each way). That's a savings of $152 which NO rewards program is going to offer ever. Some years I do more than 60 trips. My ongoing spreadsheet of savings shows out of 700 flights I've taken, I've saved over $93 average per flight. That's $65,100 I've saved guaranteed in those 700 flights. Some of my flights were as cheap as $23 one way when other carriers were $130 for the same flight!
I don't need a check-in bag, ever. I don't need a carry-on bag, ever. I don't need seat assignments as I fit in any seat (5'8" 155#). I don't need "free" water or peanuts as I can bring my own and do. I don't need inflight WiFi or video screens. There is no point in me subsidizing those who need that stuff.
I've tried airline rewards programs and it's too complicated and frustrating. My dad is a multimillion mile flier on AA and he's angry all the time that he can't book the flights he wants for the rewards he's earned. My business partner has earned millions in reward points on various airlines and he complains about the lack fo redemption options for him.
If I was flying business class to Europe 15x a year, I'd consider a rewards program, but most of the time I do just fine playing the scheduling game and buying my own business class seat at a very good rate.
