Revenue-based frequent flyer programs
For decades, frequent flyers were given rewards based on the number of miles they flew.
This year, United Airlines, Delta and American Airlines changed that, rewarding miles based on the dollar amount of a ticket.
It's a seismic shift that doles out rewards to the big spenders, rather than the frequent fliers.
"In 33 years of frequent flier programs, this is the year of the biggest changes ever," notes Randy Petersen, CEO of Frequent Flier Services.
It is a model that is starting to spread throughout the industry.
"We saw some of the first hints globally from international carriers," notes Jason Clampet, co-founder of Skift.com, which follows trends in the travel industry.
Earlier this year, British Airways tweaked its loyalty program to reduce the amount of miles an economy ticket can accrue. Cathay Pacific also moved to a more revenue-based model a few months ago.
"It is kind of a ripple effect going back and forth in both directions. We are also going to see more creative loyalty programs pop up," predicts Clampet.