Tiffany Funk now runs Flying Blue, and the first big change on her watch makes the cheapest business class awards look a lot like basic economy. We get into what got stripped out, why the fix conveniently runs through their status program, and why that status ladder makes Mark want to lie down. It is not just airlines either, and Caesars and Carnival both proved it this same week. Plus PenFed kills the free version of a card people were milking, Citi's AAdvantage Executive is at 125,000 miles with a family lounge perk nobody else offers anymore, inKind has another $50 off $100 in the links below, and Rakuten's card offers are back. Let us know in the comments if decoupling lounge access from awards is fair or just another devaluation.

Episode Guide:

  • 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
  • 0:23 Our Tiffany Funk Problem
  • 2:28 Flying Blue Makes Business Class Awards Basic Economy
  • 5:35 Status Is the Fix (and Flying Blue's Status Ladder Is a Mess)
  • 8:00 Loyalty Programs Reward Spenders, Not Flyers
  • 10:06 Melio: $230 Gift Card After a $500 Payment
  • 11:33 PenFed Phases Out the Free Pathfinder
  • 14:01 Citi AAdvantage Executive at 125K
  • 17:12 inKind: $50 Off $100 Is Back
  • 19:15 Rakuten Card Offers Return
  • 21:43 Final Thoughts

Links

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