Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Turbulence of Loyalty

by BoardingArea | May 10, 2024 | 0 Comments

Welcome back to our sky-high series, #FrequentFlyerFunnies, where we find the humor in the hustle of racking up those miles. This week, we’re navigating the turbulent emotions that come with changes to our beloved loyalty programs. Fasten your seatbelts and stow your tray tables—this is going to be a relatable ride!

A comic strip depicting the various emotional stages experienced by frequent flyers when dealing with changes in airline policies. The comic is divided into six panels each representing different stages: Denial, Anger, Negotiation, Depression, Acceptance, and Change. Each panel humorously illustrates typical reactions such as a traveler in denial saying, "Nooo! They can't be changing the rules!", and one in anger shaking a fist at an airline counter. The Negotiation panel shows a traveler pleading, "But I'm one of your best customers: can't I get an exception?" In Depression, a person is slumped over a bar. Acceptance shows a resigned traveler at the elite check-in, while Change shows someone happily switching to a different airline offering a status match. The caption humorously comments, "They say that acceptance is the hardest stage of frequent flyer grief—thank goodness for status matches!"

What the Comic Shows:

Our comic portrays the “Stages of Frequent Flyer Grief” with sharp wit and inky insight. We see our frequent flyer hero grappling with policy changes at the airline, going through a cycle familiar to anyone who’s lost a treasured status or perk: denial, anger, negotiation, depression, and what looks like acceptance—until a tempting offer appears.

Punchline:

The final twist comes when our traveler, seemingly resigned to their fate at the elite check-in, is lured by the siren song of a status match offer. It’s an unexpected shift from acceptance to opportunistic change—because in the frequent flyer game, it’s all about staying airborne in the best possible way.

Why We’re Chuckling:

It’s a playful jab at the emotional bonds we form with our loyalty programs and how quickly they can be tested. The comic captures the quirky truth of the frequent flyer life: no matter how many times we say we’re done, there’s always a new deal that might just get us back in the air.

Dive Deeper with Us:

  • Loyalty Loop: Does the ‘acceptance’ stage in our flyer’s journey ever truly come, or are we eternally circling the airport of better offers? Share your looping loyalty tales.
  • Point of Diminishing Returns: At what moment does the pursuit of points eclipse the perks they promise? Dive into your experiences when chasing rewards turned into a taxing trek.
  • Autopilot Actions: Have you ever found yourself on autopilot, doing the same travel routines for the sake of status, even when they stop making sense? Let’s discuss when it’s time to switch off autopilot and navigate a new course.
  • The ‘Change’ Choice: Is the real power in acceptance, or is it in the freedom to change loyalty at a moment’s notice? Reflect on what true traveler empowerment looks like in today’s loyalty program landscape.
Frequent Flyer Funnies
Also on BoardingArea
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Don’t U.S. Airports Operate 24/7?
Ever wonder why U.S. airports don’t operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Well, technically, they DO. With few exceptions, airports don’t 100% close when the last plane…
Miles To Memories
How to Save More Now with Very Minor Sacrifices, If Any
Many think how to save means giving up a lot, but that's not the case with these methods. Simply cut your costs with these options. The post How to Save More Now with Very Minor Sacrifices, If Any appeared first on Miles to Memories.
View from the Wing
November 2025’s Best Credit Card Offers: The Biggest, Richest Bonuses Up for Grabs Right Now
November 2025 brings a fresh round of best-ever credit card offers, with several new bonuses added and others already gone. Here’s the up-to-date list of the most lucrative deals still available. Continue reading November 2025’s Best Credit Card Offers: The Biggest, Richest Bonuses Up for Grabs Right Now...
View from the Wing
November 2025’s Best Credit Card Offers: The Biggest, Richest Bonuses Up for Grabs Right Now
November 2025 brings a fresh round of best-ever credit card offers, with several new bonuses added and others already gone. Here’s the up-to-date list of the most lucrative deals still available. Continue reading November 2025’s Best Credit Card Offers: The Biggest, Richest Bonuses Up for Grabs Right Now...
Live and Let’s Fly
Hilton’s Diamond Reserve Rumor Raises Real Program Questions
Hilton may add a Diamond Reserve tier with big spend rules. Here is how it stacks up to Marriott Ambassador and what it means for Aspire cardholders. Hilton’s Next Move At The Top Hilton Honors is reportedly cooking up a refresh that would slide a new tier above Diamond. Early...
PointsMath
20+ Current Accor Promotions [Earn, Save, Fast Track & More] [Nov’25]
Accor is a popular hotel chain in Europe, Africa & Asia, as it has many properties in these regions. And, there are several promotions you can take advantage of. Here are the current Accor Promotions. List of Ongoing Accor Promotions Promotion Key Dates Action Earn 4x Accor Points on New...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Choice Privileges: Earn 1,000 bonus points per night for stays Worldwide (well, almost worldwide)
Choice Privileges have launched an excellent global promotion for stays at their hotels which awards members 1,000 bonus points per night! It’s great to see Choice Privileges move away from their typically bonus points offer of stay twice get up to 8,000 points promotion! The 1,000 bonus points per night...
View from the Wing
Marriott Abruptly Kills 20-Year Sonder Partnership — Bonvoy Members Pay the Price
Marriott abruptly ended its 20-year Sonder partnership, pulling properties from Bonvoy overnight. Guests who booked through Marriott are learning the points and benefits they were promised no longer apply. Continue reading Marriott Abruptly Kills 20-Year Sonder Partnership — Bonvoy Members Pay the Price...
Points With a Crew
19 Tech and Travel Deals at Amazon This Weekend
Some decent Amazon weekend deals on travel and tech gear going on this weekend, including headphones, luggage, locks, packing cubes and supplies, travel books and ...
One Mile at a Time
How Much Do Credit Card Issuers Pay For Airline & Hotel Points?
I’m always fascinated by the business side of miles & points. Loyalty programs can be huge profit centers for airlines and hotel groups, and the more we know about the economics of these programs, the better we can understand the evolution of credit card rewards.
Economy Class & Beyond
SNAPSHOT: British Airways 296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow in World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)
It’s time for another Snapshot, this time focusing on the passenger experience aboard British Airways 296 in World Traveller Plus (the Premium Economy Cabin) I’m sure you know how I do this travel writing thing by now. But for those reading this for the first time, I have two major...
Live and Let’s Fly
Hyatt Hotels: Relying On Chase Deal as Growth Levels Off
Hyatt posts a small RevPAR gain, plans big asset sales, and leans on a richer Chase partnership while demand signals look flatter across the industry. Setting The Table Hyatt’s third quarter (2025) reads like a mix of steady progress and careful caution. Revenue per available room in comparable system-wide hotels...
Your Mileage May Vary
You’re Probably Overpaying If You Automatically Pick UberX
Whether we’re heading to the airport from home or from a hotel in a new city, our first step is almost always the same: open both Uber and Lyft and…
View from the Wing
Military Offers Up Air Traffic Controllers To Keep Flights Moving During Shutdown — Why Major Obstacles Loom
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly texted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make the offer, but even if the FAA wants the help, it may not be able to use it. Military controllers aren’t certified in civilian airspace, use different systems, and can’t simply plug into the FAA’s network without retraining...
Wild About Travel
Fire Over Kentucky: What People Miss in Plane Crash Fears
Last week, a UPS MD-11 crashed at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, Kentucky, USA, shortly after takeoff. The jet, carrying an estimated 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel, erupted into a massive fireball as it crashed into an industrial area about two kilometres from the airport, striking multiple buildings and...
View from the Wing
Rome Flight Turns Toward American Airlines Jet Seconds After Takeoff From LAX — Controller Averts Major Near Miss
A Rome-bound ITA Airways Airbus A330 departing Los Angeles International Airport turned directly toward an American Airlines jet taking off from a parallel runway, prompting urgent controller commands to prevent a collision. The two aircraft reportedly came within about a mile of each other at the same altitude before air...
The Bulkhead Seat
Breakup: Marriott Drops Sonder Following Its Default With Properties No Longer Bookable
In August 2024, Marriott  hit 9,000 hotels under its massive brand umbrella. The lodging… The post Breakup: Marriott Drops Sonder Following Its Default With Properties No Longer Bookable appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
One Mile at a Time
United Flight Attendant Downs Booze On Flight, Arrested 10x Over Legal Limit
I hope this flight attendant gets the help she needs, because obviously this is bad situation…
View from the Wing
AAdvantage Dining Restaurant Hides Its Credit Card Surcharge As “Advantage Program Fee” — Scam?
A reader thought AAdvantage Dining had started charging for earning miles after seeing an “Advantage Program Fee” on their restaurant receipt. It turns out the fee comes from the restaurant’s point-of-sale system — a credit-card surcharge disguised with a confusing name. Continue reading AAdvantage Dining Restaurant Hides Its Credit Card Surcharge...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Aerial View of Miami in Florida. Sunday Morning Photograph.
I was unexpectedly treated to an aerial view of Miami in Florida moments after the airplane on which I was a passenger departed from Miami International Airport, as I had no idea which way the airplane would initially be going — and I sat by a window seat. Looking east northeast...
Altitude Yes
Tokyo Haneda Airport to Combine Terminals 1 and 2
Construction is scheduled to be completed in the first half of the 2030s. The post Tokyo Haneda Airport to Combine Terminals 1 and 2 first appeared on Altitude Yes.
Live and Let’s Fly
California Candidate Says Ground Billionaire Jets
Katie Porter says cut private jets, not commercial. With a 10% flight reduction looming from the shutdown, is she right about where to trim? FAA Reduction: Why Airlines Are Being Told To Fly Less Because of the ongoing government shutdown and mounting fatigue among unpaid controllers, the FAA and DOT...
One Mile at a Time
Chinese Airline Hiring “Air Aunties” With Empathy And Life Experience
A Chinese airline is making headlines for the approach that it’s taking to hiring flight attendants, with people having mixed reactions, as reported by the South China Morning Post…
The Bulkhead Seat
Confirmed: Hilton Honors is Adding a New Top-Level Elite Status Level in 2026
Hilton Honors confirmed that it is making one of its biggest loyalty program changes… The post Confirmed: Hilton Honors is Adding a New Top-Level Elite Status Level in 2026 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

Our Bloggers