Is elite status still worth chasing? Are you being charged more for airfare based on your search history? And could the cost to check a bag be going up … again?
Those questions drove some of the airline industry’s biggest headlines during the past week, so let’s dive in with some answers.
First, elite status. Complimentary upgrades seem rarer than ever. The requirements to qualify keep changing. And flying on an actual plane is almost incidental to earning elite status these days.
“It's an age-old question that's back on plenty of travelers' minds — especially after two of the four largest U.S. carriers overhauled their loyalty programs this month,” writes TPG’s Sean Cudahy in breaking down the pros and cons of chasing status amid an ever-evolving landscape.
Another question that surfaced this past week: Are airlines using your personal data to manipulate the fares you’re served? It’s a question we get all the time from readers. And no matter how many times it’s debunked as a myth, it keeps coming back.
The airlines say they don’t do it and have no plans to do so. But now it’s the Federal Trade Commission that’s looking for an answer. Here’s what you need to know.
And last: Should you expect to pay more to check a bag?
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