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
Frequent Miler
Can we trust Bilt with our points?
The Bilt 2.0 rollout has taught me to question Bilt’s leadership more than ever. They promised a seamless transition to 2.0, but it was anything but. They launched their new cards before finalizing details about Bilt Cash. Then, in the face of negative publicity, they made the terrible spur-of-the-moment decision...
The Bulkhead Seat
Lounge Review: Admirals Club® (ORD – Terminal 3, Concourse L)
While heading back to Tampa International Airport (TPA) today, I had some time to… The post Lounge Review: Admirals Club® (ORD – Terminal 3, Concourse L) appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Points With a Crew
Which Delta American Express card Is Best? (New Higher Offers)
5 of the Delta American Express cards are all all offering increased sign-up bonuses, including some of the highest that I've ever seen! You can get up to 95,000 Skymiles as a welcome offer by ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Crossing the Drake Passage on the Way to Antarctica
We began crossing the Drake Passage on the way to Antarctica the night before, when we left the port of Ushuaia. For the next two days, we would be sailing across this notoriously treacherous part of the Southern Ocean. The first thing we did upon awakening that first morning at sea...
Frequent Miler
Great Wolf Lodge sale: Book suites for $26 (Feb 6 only)
Great Wolf Lodge will be running another great sale on Friday February 6, offering suites for only $26. The Deal Book Great Wolf Lodge suites for $26 on February 6. Direct link to offer (our affiliate link). Key Terms Offer valid February 6, 2026 only. Offer valid at Great Wolf...
Frequent Miler
Great Wolf Lodge sale: Book suites for $26 (Feb 6 only)
Great Wolf Lodge will be running another great sale on Friday February 6, offering suites for only $26. The Deal Book Great Wolf Lodge suites for $26 on February 6. Direct link to offer (our affiliate link). Key Terms Offer valid February 6, 2026 only. Offer valid at Great Wolf...
One Mile at a Time
Review: Holiday Inn Express Delhi Airport Terminal 3 (Airside Convenience)
For the next (brief) hotel stay of my Iceland to The Residence via Cambodia trip, I spent several hours at the Holiday Inn Express Delhi Airport (DEL) Terminal 3. Specifically, I was scheduled to have a roughly 10-hour layover, as I was arriving from London in Air India’s A350 business class,...
2PAXfly
EUROPE: Carry on bags to become free on low-cost carriers
Budget carriers like easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have built their ultra-low headline fares on optional extras, especially baggage fees. But now the European Parliament has taken a strong stance in favour of passengers being allowed to bring more on board for free — and it has triggered a fierce...
Frequent Miler
Kroger: Earn 4x fuel points on 3rd party gift cards (but not fixed-value Visa & Mastercard gift cards)
Kroger is again running a promotion that awards 4x fuel points on third-party gift cards, whether purchased online or in-store. Unusually, this latest promo isn’t offering 4x on fixed-value Visa and Mastercard gift cards. This promotion is valid on gift cards purchased this weekend from Wednesday February 4 through Tuesday...
Your Mileage May Vary
We Finally Made It to the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston — And Now We Get the Hype
The Chase Sapphire Lounge at Boston Logan has been on our radar since it opened in 2023 — mostly because it was the first domestic Sapphire Lounge, and because the…
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta’s “Reclaim My Status” Lets Some Medallion Members Return to the Elite Ranks Into 2028
Losing airline elite status can feel like watching a year of priority perks disappear… The post Delta’s “Reclaim My Status” Lets Some Medallion Members Return to the Elite Ranks Into 2028 appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
Multiple Visa, Mastercard, & Amex gift card waived purchase fee deals on Incomm sites
MastercardGiftCard.com, VanillaGift.com, TheGiftCardShop.com, and AmexGiftCard.com – all sites run by Incomm – have promo codes at the moment that waive purchase fees on Visa, Mastercard, and/or Amex gift cards. The Deals & Key Terms MastercardGiftCard.com Get 100% off $50+ Mastercard gift card purchase fees with promo code VDAY26 Expires February...
View from the Wing
American Airlines COO Claims Tech Worked During Meltdown, Denies Flight Attendants Slept In Airports—His CEO Disagrees
American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour insists the airline's technology performed effectively during last week's severe storm, despite canceling nearly 10,000 flights. Seymour also denied widespread reports—including from his own CEO—that flight attendants were forced to sleep in airports.
Frequent Miler
Homes & Villas by Marriott promo: Earn 25K bonus points for your first booking (2 night & $1.5K minimum)
If you’ve never booked a Homes & Villas by Marriott stay, you should be able to register for a new promotion that’s awarding 25,000 bonus Bonvoy points on your first stay. The Deal Earn 25,000 bonus points on your first Homes & Villas by Marriott stay. Direct link to registration....
One Mile at a Time
Airplane Deplaning Etiquette Quandary: To Stay Seated, Or Not To Stay Seated
There are a lot of hotly contested airplane etiquette topics out there, ranging from who controls the window shades, to whether reclining your seat is a right or privilege, to when it’s appropriate to swap seats with others, to standing up as soon as the plane arrives at the gate....
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles: Earn up to 4,000 bonus miles on flights from Ho Chi Minh to San Francisco (Feb 4 Bonus Offer Highlight)
Today's bonus offer highlight is an excellent flight bonus for Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles members looking to fly to San Francisco! Check out all of the new bonuses added today: The post Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles: Earn up to 4,000 bonus miles on flights from Ho Chi Minh to San Francisco (Feb 4...
Miles To Memories
Caesars Cuts & Changes, Vegas Super Bowl Watch Parties, Cutting Off Winners & Breaking Up The Big 2?
Breaking up MGM and Caesars, more changes to Caesars elite benefits, blocking in the Strip, Super Bowl watch parties & quirkiest casino perks! The post Caesars Cuts & Changes, Vegas Super Bowl Watch Parties, Cutting Off Winners & Breaking Up The Big 2? appeared first on Miles to Memories.
Miles To Memories
US Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card Offers $750 Bonus
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Credit Card is once again offering its best ever bonus that can earn you $750. The post US Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card Offers $750 Bonus appeared first on Miles to Memories.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
British Regulators Demand Answers After Air India 787 Took Off From Heathrow With Faulty Fuel Cutoff Switch
British aviation regulators have given Air India one week to explain what engineering checks were completed before one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners was allowed to take off from London Heathrow Airport on Sunday night after the pilots noted an issue with one of the fuel cut-off switches. Air India...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Earn 500 Bonus MileagePlus Miles by Shopping for Valentine’s Day
Effective through Monday, February 9, 2026 at 11:59:59 in the evening Eastern Standard Time, you can earn 500 bonus MileagePlus miles by shopping for Valentine’s Day — in addition to the standard MileagePlus miles earned — during the Winter Bonus Offer campaign at the United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping portal by...
Frequent Miler
Save $50 on $250+ Booking.com prepaid hotel booking with targeted Amex Offer
There’s a new Amex Offer out that’s giving $50 back when spending $250 or more on prepaid accommodation bookings on Booking.com. The Deal Spend $250+ on one or more pre-paid lodging bookings (“pay now”) online at booking.com/amexoffer and get $50 back with a targeted Amex Offer. Key Terms Expires April...
View from the Wing
Southwest’s 2022 Holiday Meltdown Wasn’t Their First — They’re Still Fighting Insurance Over the 2016 $77 Million IT Failure
Southwest Airlines' infamous 2022 holiday meltdown, costing nearly $1 billion, wasn't an isolated disaster—it echoed their costly 2016 IT failure, which triggered $77 million in losses. Ten years later, they're still fighting in court to recover insurance payments, showing that failing IT can cost airlines dearly for years after the...
Your Mileage May Vary
Southwest’s Mini Companion Pass Promo Is Back — But Why So Early This Year?
If you’ve flown Southwest for a while, you start to notice that they’re nothing if not consistent. Promotions tend to show up when you expect them. Sales follow a rhythm.…
The Alviator
Cathay Pacific Introduces New Regional Business Class: Yay, This Looks Nice!
Cathay Pacific recently revealed their new lie-flat regional business class product, due to start flying on A330s and A330neos from 2026. The post Cathay Pacific Introduces New Regional Business Class: Yay, This Looks Nice! appeared first on The Alviator.

Leave a Reply

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

Categories

Our Bloggers