The State of Airline Loyalty
Data from 1,600+ frequent flyers, tracked programme changes, and the numbers behind elite status decisions. Updated as new research lands.
55%
of BA status holders expected to drop a tier in 2025
45%
say they'll fly on price alone if status is lost
9%
had already switched to a different programme before year-end
1,600+
frequent flyers surveyed across Travel Smarter polls
Source: Travel Smarter Community Polls, Dec 2025 & Feb 2026
What Frequent Flyers Actually Think
We run regular, independent surveys of frequent flyers and status holders to find out what travellers actually think and plan.
"What do you think will happen to your BA status at the end of this year?"
Insight: Only 7% of BA status holders were on track to move up. More than half expected a downgrade.
"Airlines are increasingly shifting from rewarding distance flown to rewarding revenue. That means many travellers who previously qualified through regular flying are now finding they need to spend significantly more to reach the same status tiers."
"What will you do if you lose BA status this year?"
Insight: Nearly half of status holders will abandon loyalty-based booking entirely if they drop tier — the highest churn risk signal in our data to date.
"When travellers realise they're unlikely to retain status with their primary airline, loyalty starts to break down. More flyers are becoming 'free agents', choosing the best flight or exploring alternative programmes rather than automatically sticking with one carrier."
Loyalty Programmes Are Getting Harder to Navigate
The loyalty landscape shifted significantly in 2023–2025. Revenue-based earning replaced distance-based models across most major US carriers and influenced global programme design. Tier thresholds tightened. Partner earning rates were quietly reduced. The result: more travel, fewer points, and harder-to-reach status tiers.
10+
Different status qualification metrics across the 20 programmes we track
BA uses Tier Points. Delta uses MQDs. United uses PQPs and PQFs. ANA uses Premium Points. No two programmes measure status the same way, making cross-programme comparison nearly impossible without dedicated tooling.
3 of 4
Largest global airline groups have moved to revenue-influenced status earning since 2019
The shift from distance-based to revenue-based earning has fundamentally changed who benefits from loyalty programmes, rewarding high-spend travellers and penalising frequent short-haul flyers regardless of trip volume.
70+
Airlines and programmes tracked by Travel Smarter
A single flight on Emirates can be credited to six or more different programmes — each with different earning rates, tier credit rules, and redemption values. The "right" choice varies by route, fare class, and your current status position.
Up to 70%
Less status credit earned on discounted fares vs. flexible equivalents
A discounted Premium Economy fare can earn less than half the Tier Points of a flexible ticket on the same route. The value of the benefits lost from missing status usually far outweighs the money saved on the fare.
Three Signals We're Watching in 2026
Status Holder Attrition Is Accelerating
Our February 2026 poll found 45% of BA status holders ready to abandon loyalty-based booking if they lose tier. Combined with the 9% who had already switched programmes before year-end, this represents a meaningful and measurable churn signal. Airlines have historically counted on inertia to retain status holders, but that inertia appears to be eroding.
"45% say they'll fly on price alone if status is lost. Loyalty inertia is no longer a reliable retention strategy."
The oneworld Ecosystem Is Fragmenting
Our data shows 15% of at-risk BA status holders plan to switch within oneworld — notably to programmes like Alaska Mileage Plan and Qantas, which offer stronger partner earning on shared routes. Status portability within an alliance is increasingly a factor in programme selection, not just redemption value.
Travellers Are Flying More, Earning Less
Programme rule changes between 2023 and 2025 reduced partner earning rates across multiple major programmes without headline announcements. Our programme tracker has logged 40+ earning rate reductions across 12 airlines in the past 18 months. Travellers maintaining the same flight patterns are frequently earning 15–30% fewer status credits than they were two years ago.
Travel Smarter polls are distributed to opted-in frequent flyers and status holders via our platform, newsletter, and community groups. Polls are unsponsored and conducted independently. Industry statistics cited on this page are sourced from publicly available programme documentation, airline announcements, and third-party aviation research where noted. We update this page as new data becomes available.
Have data to contribute or a correction to flag? Contact us
What We're Tracking Next
Partner Flight Crediting Study
Which programmes offer the best earning on the 20 most-flown international routes.
Fare Class Awareness Survey
Do frequent flyers know what fare class they're booking? And does it affect their status outcomes?
Programme Stability Index
How often do earning rates change, and which programmes are most volatile?
Travel Smarter's Airline Loyalty Awards
Annual ranking of airline loyalty programmes based on our proprietary data.