Comment Re:You have to wonder at some point (Score 2) 342
The airlines themselves are always going bankrupt because it's nearly perfect competition. Most people just buy the cheapest ticket from A to B, with no second thoughts. These programs help create a small number of customers who fly a specific airline or alliance, which gives them a slight edge.
I won't take an extra trip because I'm Premier 1K, but it does make me more likely to book on United than US Airways, since in the one case I'm likely to get upgraded and in the other case I'm not.