The interesting thing is that Delta (and others) have been devaluing their loyalty points for years, to the point that a few years ago frequent flyers started referring to Delta points as "SkyPesos" instead of "SkyMiles"
Nonsense - buy a cheaper, non-point earning ticket if you don't want the points.
I think it is an option almost all the time? It is when I look to buy tickets.
> Not every country has 100 airports.
Sorry I've got absolutely no idea what this has to do with it?
I said 'buy a cheaper ticket', not 'fly from a different airport'.
Customers are being convinced to get a frequent-flyer-miles card rather than, say, a cash-back card.
That's why I opted out of the "points" bullshit and went with a good cash-back card instead.
With a reasonably generous point scheme - and more importantly, one I could transfer to about 8 different airlines, I just accumulated points for a decade.
In 2015, I cashed in 2/3 of my points balance for a round-the-world trip on Singapore Airlines in Suite Class (where you get your own cabin).
I wasn't getting free flights each year like a business traveller, but for an effectively cost-neutral card that didn't require me to change my spending habits, I feel like a Suite Class RTW flight every 6-7 years is a decent reward.