A few weeks ago a group of our friends gathered at our home for one of our usual wine-and-food-appreciation get-togethers. It was a lovely evening for sitting on the patio surrounded by all the lush summer flowers and sharing stories and catching up on each other’s latest exploits. Many of us Baby Boomers are nearing or have reached retirement, and for most, travel — both for work and pleasure — has been a big part of our lives.

One couple this past year had taken a wonderful three-week trip to South America, and they raved about the fantastic service and comfortable, lie-flat seats they enjoyed on their first-class flight to Buenos Aires. John had worked out the upgrade after his years of building up miles and segments as a frequent business flyer. He did, however, have one complaint.

Having retired just over a year ago and therefore making far fewer flights this past year, he has found himself no longer in that upper tier of frequent fliers. He bemoaned the fact that he’s lost his Gold status, and expressed some frustration that, after 20 years of loyalty to one airline on which he logged so many trips, year after year, he was “dropped like a hot potato.” He liked being called by name by airline personnel and all those perks that came with his elite status and wondered why the airline couldn’t extend a little appreciation for his loyalty to it by not severing that relationship quite so abruptly.

What do you think? I’m sure there are plenty of frequent fliers out there who, due to a change in job or retirement, find themselves suddenly not flying as often anymore and facing a loss of those perks that make air travel much more pleasant. Should their years of loyalty to an airline earn them some special accomodation, or is this simply a matter of business in rewarding only those who continue to maintain their status through frequent travel?

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor