Meghan Coyle

And these airlines are actually making a ton of money off of their frequent flyer programs. Can you explain how these airline loyalty programs work today?

That's a great point. It's like people who don't have these travel rewards credit cards are already losing the game when it comes to things that they buy in their everyday life when they're not traveling.

That's a great point. It's like people who don't have these travel rewards credit cards are already losing the game when it comes to things that they buy in their everyday life when they're not traveling.

That's a great point. It's like people who don't have these travel rewards credit cards are already losing the game when it comes to things that they buy in their everyday life when they're not traveling.

Oh, yeah. NerdWallet does this every year.

Oh, yeah. NerdWallet does this every year.

Oh, yeah. NerdWallet does this every year.

We look at like hundreds of flights or hundreds of hotel stays and try to figure out how much those points are worth. And the answer is not that clear. Yeah.

We look at like hundreds of flights or hundreds of hotel stays and try to figure out how much those points are worth. And the answer is not that clear. Yeah.

We look at like hundreds of flights or hundreds of hotel stays and try to figure out how much those points are worth. And the answer is not that clear. Yeah.

Yeah, that's why NerdWallet always recommends checking how much your points are worth using some of our calculators and also not buying points unless you know and have done the math that it is a good deal to buy it. Sometimes, occasionally, there might be a promo or something that does make buying points worth it, especially if you only need a few. But definitely all important reminders.

Yeah, that's why NerdWallet always recommends checking how much your points are worth using some of our calculators and also not buying points unless you know and have done the math that it is a good deal to buy it. Sometimes, occasionally, there might be a promo or something that does make buying points worth it, especially if you only need a few. But definitely all important reminders.

Yeah, that's why NerdWallet always recommends checking how much your points are worth using some of our calculators and also not buying points unless you know and have done the math that it is a good deal to buy it. Sometimes, occasionally, there might be a promo or something that does make buying points worth it, especially if you only need a few. But definitely all important reminders.

What are some things that customers can do in this environment to not get super locked into the system and maybe not able to use their points?

What are some things that customers can do in this environment to not get super locked into the system and maybe not able to use their points?

What are some things that customers can do in this environment to not get super locked into the system and maybe not able to use their points?

I really want to dig into that a bit more because there is so much that people might not know about the federal government's role in all of this. And it's not all bad news for consumers, actually. So that's coming up in a moment. Stay with us. The Department of Transportation has actually done some things in the past few years to add a bit more protections for consumers.

I really want to dig into that a bit more because there is so much that people might not know about the federal government's role in all of this. And it's not all bad news for consumers, actually. So that's coming up in a moment. Stay with us. The Department of Transportation has actually done some things in the past few years to add a bit more protections for consumers.

I really want to dig into that a bit more because there is so much that people might not know about the federal government's role in all of this. And it's not all bad news for consumers, actually. So that's coming up in a moment. Stay with us. The Department of Transportation has actually done some things in the past few years to add a bit more protections for consumers.

And they also launched an investigation last year into airline loyalty programs. What are you most interested to see in the coming year or years, changes that might be coming to the airline industry?