Air miles and loyalty tiers have long defined how travellers gauge value. Collecting points and stacking perks feel like progress—a sign of experience and status.
However, as travel patterns shift, another currency is proving far more valuable: time. While reward programmes still offer clear benefits, the cost of lost hours due to delays, missed connections, or extended layovers often goes unaccounted for.
This post takes a closer look at why time now holds greater value than points, and what travellers can do to hold onto more of it.
The Unseen Toll of Frequent Flying
Frequent flying is less polished than it looks. It’s repetitive, uncertain, and quietly exhausting. People who travel often know what disappears between the lines. It’s time lost to crowded terminals, sleep traded for check-in windows, and presence given up for the hope of staying on schedule.
Jet lag stops being a temporary inconvenience and becomes standard. These experiences are rarely accounted for in loyalty programmes, even though they significantly impact the travel experience.
The Shifting Value of Points and Perks
Air miles can provide benefits, but the structure of many programmes has changed over time. Points are harder to redeem, dynamic pricing adds uncertainty, and the fine print often trims away much of the original value. Here’s why miles don’t carry the weight they once did:
- Points often lose value over time due to changing redemption policies
- A large percentage of earned miles go unused
- They come with blackout dates, limited seats, and hidden fees
A free upgrade feels hollow when it comes at the cost of a 9-hour delay or a missed meeting. Time, not just perks, should be part of the equation.
How to Offset Losses from Flight Disruptions
When schedules break down, travellers have more options than many realise. Under EU261 and UK261 regulations, delayed or cancelled flights may qualify for financial compensation, depending on the circumstances.
Still, most travellers don’t submit claims. Some aren’t aware of the rules, while others assume the process is tedious or unlikely to succeed.
To protect your time and recover losses when schedules unravel:
1. Keep records of departure and arrival times.
2. Know your rights in the event of disruptions.
3. Use specialised services like AirHelp to simplify the claims process for compensation for delayed flight.
Not every delay is covered. Weather, airport strikes, or security risks may fall outside the regulations. However, a surprising number of cases do qualify and go unclaimed each year.
More Than Miles: The Moments You Miss
You don’t need to be a consultant billing by the hour to feel the sting of travel disruptions. Every delay can mean less time with family, lost hours of rest, or the cancellation of plans at the destination.
These moments matter. And unlike points, they can’t be stored up or regained later. Whether you fly for business, family, or something in between, time on the move has value. When it’s wasted, there’s no status tier that can replace it.
Conclusion: Rethinking What Travel Value Really Means
Loyalty programmes still offer benefits, but they shouldn’t be the only measure of value. Travel is defined as much by what goes wrong as what goes smoothly, and the hours lost often outweigh any upgrades gained.
Looking back at recent trips can be eye-opening. If delays were common, compensation may have been possible. Knowing your rights and using services like AirHelp can make unexpected interruptions manageable—and even recoverable.
