How Airlines Quietly Became Banks
Wendover Productions · 5 HN recommendations
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A Wendover Productions explainer arguing that major airlines make much of their profit from loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards rather than flying. It frames airlines as quasi-banks that sell points in bulk, using United's pandemic-era loan as a hook.
Why HN recommends it: HN commenters point to it whenever airline economics or frequent-flier miles come up, since it clearly shows loyalty programs are worth more than the airlines themselves.
“Wendover Productions had a good video about this, framed around United getting a loan during the pandemic” Read on HN ↗