On May 1, 1981, American Airlines revolutionized the travel industry, launching the AAdvantage frequent flier program, the original, modern-day customer loyalty program. Competitors quickly followed suit, hospitality companies joined in the mix, and now loyalty programs are commonplace across all industries.
Up in the Air, the 2009 film starring George Clooney, immortalized the notion of the super-elite, 10-million mile flier. This was a customer so valuable and rare (an....