Why your airline miles might not go as far as they used to

+ rising settler violence in the West Bank US Edition - Today's top story: Airlines are frustrating travelers by changing frequent flyer program rules – here's why they keep doing it [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 November 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Cease-fire in Gaza? Here’s what it would take]( - [Species are evolving – but not fast enough]( - [How to keep your Thanksgiving feast safe]( Lead story More than 4.7 million Americans are expected to fly this Thanksgiving, according to AAA – which means roughly one of every 70 Americans may soon be very stressed out. To the endless lines, delays and other indignities of commercial air travel, add this: ever-changing frequent flyer program rules that often seem to erode their benefits. Delta and American are just two of the airlines that have reworked theirs over the past year. What gives? Blame [the wonky economics of flying](. Boston University business professors Jay Zagorsky and H. Sami Karaca, who study loyalty programs, say that all well-designed rewards schemes follow the same principles, regardless of whether they’re intended to sell flights or coffee. But commercial air travel is unusual in a lot of ways – starting with the fact that airlines don’t earn that much money from ticket sales. And that’s why frequent flyer programs are a bit odd, too. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Tracy Walsh Economy + Business Editor A boom time for airlines can a bust for loyal passengers. Martin-dm/E+/Getty Images [Airlines are frustrating travelers by changing frequent flyer program rules – here’s why they keep doing it]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University; H. Sami Karaca, Boston University Loyalty schemes tend to be the most generous when the economy has hit a patch of turbulence. Environment + Energy - [Lizards, fish and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough]( Michael P. Moore, University of Colorado Denver; James Stroud, Georgia Institute of Technology From dark dragonflies becoming paler to plants flowering earlier, some species are slowly evolving with the climate. Evolutionary biologists explain why few will evolve fast enough. Science + Technology - [How do viruses get into cells? Their infection tactics determine whether they can jump species or set off a pandemic]( Peter Kasson, University of Virginia Viruses can get into cells in several ways. Figuring out how to stop them from entering in the first place is a key to developing better vaccines and stopping future pandemics. - [Thank gluten’s complex chemistry for your light, fluffy baked goods]( Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond Ever wonder why bakers spend so long kneading their dough? They’re trying to form a gluten network, which helps the bread rise. Health + Medicine - [This Thanksgiving − and on any holiday − these steps will help prevent foodborne illness]( Kimberly Baker, Clemson University Keeping guests safe involves far more than just careful cooking − hand-washing, keeping work surfaces clean, safe handling and proper storage are also key ingredients. - [Gaza’s next tragedy: Disease risk spreads amid overcrowded shelters, dirty water and breakdown of basic sanitation]( Yara M. Asi, University of Central Florida High levels of diarrhea, scabies and respiratory infections have been reported as bombing campaign progresses – and children are the most vulnerable. Politics + Society - [What would it take for a cease-fire to happen in Gaza?]( Laurie Nathan, University of Notre Dame Calls for a cease-fire in Gaza are driven by humanitarian compassion and principles. But cease-fires are also technically complicated military and political ventures. - [West Bank’s settler violence problem is a second sign that Israel’s policy of ignoring Palestinians’ drive for a homeland isn’t a long-term solution]( Dana El Kurd, University of Richmond While the war in Gaza has riveted public attention, the simultaneous escalation of violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is not disconnected from the violence in Gaza. - [Shows like ‘Scandal’ and ‘Madam Secretary’ inspire women to become involved in politics in real life]( Jennifer Hoewe, Purdue University Watching a woman character star in a fictional political TV drama can spark viewers, particularly women, to vote, campaign for a politician or find other ways to become involved in politics. International - [The election of Javier Milei and the challenges of an impoverished Argentina]( Matheus de Oliveira Pereira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Milei won in 20 of the country’s 23 provinces. Tired of more than a decade of economic stagnation, Argentinians chose a radical ultra-liberal, who will need to articulate himself without losing his “anti-system” legitimacy Education - [‘Time warp’ takes students to Native American past to search for solutions for the future]( Eric M. Anderman, The Ohio State University; Tzu-Jung Lin, The Ohio State University Rather than have students memorize names and dates, this history curriculum invites students to grapple with real-life issues faced by people from the past. Ethics + Religion - [In America, national parks are more than scenic − they’re sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans]( Thomas S. Bremer, Rhodes College The idea of Manifest Destiny inspired Americans to push west, leading to the creation of the first national parks. But those beliefs spelled removal for many Native American groups. Trending on site - [Forget ‘Man the Hunter’ – physiological and archaeological evidence rewrites assumptions about a gendered division of labor in prehistoric times]( - [Immune health is all about balance – an immunologist explains why both too strong and too weak an immune response can lead to illness]( - [Cranberries can bounce, float and pollinate themselves: The saucy science of a Thanksgiving classic]( Today's graphic 📈 [Number of students enrolled in a foreign or Indigenous language class at a U.S. college during the fall semester from 1958 to 2021.]( From the story, [Fewer U.S. college students are studying a foreign language − and that spells trouble for national security]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](