Airlines tighten frequent-flier rules

Flying on most airlines has lost its thrill. It's a sad truth that almost all veteran travelers know.

The glamour that was once air travel has long been grounded by the industry’s economic realities, and only those willing to pay out top dollar for the best tickets can still look forward to anything approaching a comfortable and relatively hassle-free trip.

But even the perks associated with frequent flier programs are getting more stratified -- and will depend on the amount you spend on tickets, and not just the number of miles flown.

Last week, Delta Air Lines (DAL) announced it was changing the requirements for its SkyMiles Medallion customers in the United States. The company says its move "follows an industry trend of rewarding customers based on dollars spent."

And those changes are expected to break ground for other air carriers.

Delta has set up a chart of what it calls "medallion qualification dollars," with its lowest level awarded to customers who fork out $2,500 each year -- and a "diamond" designation for fliers who spend $12,500 annually. Those rankings will determine how much access Delta customers have to luxuries like seat upgrades, priority baggage handling and airline lounges.

The changes will not affect customers this year.

"These changes are a result of considerable research that we've conducted including conversations with hundreds of customers, many of whom expressed a desire to see the Medallion program truly target our best customers," Jeff Robertson, the company’s SkyMiles vice president, said in a press release.

"Adding a revenue component to the SkyMiles Medallion program ensures that our most valued customers receive the best program benefits and a more exclusive experience."

But industry analysts say it all goes back to the airlines’ bottom line.

"Big airline frequent-flier programs have become cash cows, as airlines sell billions of dollars worth of miles to credit card companies and others to give out to their customers," blogs Ed Perkins on SmarterTravel.com. "And carriers can easily cope with the huge numbers of miles by limiting award seats. I expect more tightening of elite programs going forward."

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