When SuzAnn Brantner relocated from Los Angeles to Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had already established herself as a loyal Delta Air Lines customer, holding the airline’s highest loyalty status: Diamond Medallion. This prestigious status came with perks like expedited security checks, priority boarding, and guaranteed first-class upgrade consideration.

“I’ve always loved Delta,” said Ms. Brantner, a 50-year-old marketing executive. She flew every month for work, always booking with Delta—even if it meant connecting flights, despite other airlines offering direct options. This helped her maintain her elite status without much hassle.

However, last year, when Delta announced significant changes to its frequent-flier program, Ms. Brantner began to question the value of her loyalty.

She’s not alone. Across online forums dedicated to major domestic carriers—Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines—many frequent fliers are rethinking the cost of maintaining their loyalty status. As they tally how much more they need to spend and fly to hit certain thresholds for the upcoming year, some are beginning to wonder if it’s all worth it.

After The New York Times asked its readers about their loyalty programs, more than 100 individuals shared their frustrations, with many considering canceling their airline credit cards. These cards, which often come with benefits like lounge access and are tied to loyalty points, are becoming less attractive as airlines continue to modify their programs. Many of these fliers felt disillusioned after years of accumulating miles, only to see their rewards lose value as airlines tweaked their loyalty offerings.

Ms. Brantner recalls a time when maintaining Diamond status with Delta required spending $15,000 annually. Now, Delta has raised the requirement to $28,000 per year. She also learned that her American Express Delta Reserve card would impose limits on her access to Delta’s Sky Club lounges unless she spent at least $75,000 annually on the card.

That was the tipping point. Ms. Brantner began flying with American Airlines for her trips to Los Angeles, as they offer more convenient direct flights from Indianapolis. She even opted for Southwest Airlines when attending a concert by The Killers in Las Vegas, realizing that it wasn’t worth the hassle of connecting flights.

“I thought, ‘Why am I putting myself through these connections?’” she said. “I’m not going to choose just any airline anymore. I’m going to do what’s best for me.”

Though she initially considered canceling her Delta Reserve card, American Express offered her a $300 incentive to keep it, so she decided to hold on to it for another year.

Airlines’ Perspective

Airlines often make changes to their loyalty programs for practical reasons, even if it alienates some of their most dedicated customers. For example, Delta’s airport lounges have been seeing unprecedented levels of traffic, leading to overcrowding. Additionally, the airline now sells 88 percent of its first-class seats, compared to just 14 percent in 2011, which has made complimentary upgrades harder to come by for loyal customers.

“We greatly appreciate the loyalty our SkyMiles members continue to show, engaging with us at record levels,” said a Delta spokesperson. A spokesperson from American Express echoed this sentiment, noting strong engagement with their Delta co-branded cards.

United Airlines also reported that its MileagePlus program is expanding rapidly. As part of this growth, the airline has introduced new rules that require customers to fly more and spend more to earn status. On the other hand, American Airlines kept its status thresholds the same this year while introducing new perks for loyalty members.

The new rules are designed to reduce competition for upgrades among elite members, making those who do reach status feel more exclusive. However, for frequent fliers like Dan Daley, the value of these loyalty programs has diminished over the years.

Mr. Daley, a freelance journalist who has flown more than four million miles with American Airlines, held the coveted Executive Platinum status for 17 years. To maintain his status, he would often take “mileage runs,” such as flying to Paris just for a day to earn miles.

While the perks of top-tier status made him feel special—he was often treated like family by gate agents—the constant devaluation of miles and changes to the reward system eventually led him to reconsider.

“I realized the game was rigged,” said Mr. Daley, 71.

Several years ago, he decided to abandon his elite status and adopted a new approach: flying less and buying first-class tickets on whichever airline offered the best deal. Since then, he’s found it to be a much more satisfying experience.

“I don’t need to rely on status anymore,” he said. “It’s been a much better ride.”

Seeking Alternatives

Rachel Lipson, who has a Delta SkyMiles credit card from her 20s, used to put all her spending on the card to earn miles and maintain status. But now, at 43, she has shifted her strategy.

“I used to think it was magical getting a free trip every couple of years, but now it’s not going to get you much,” she said.

Now running a business called Brooklyn Family Travelers, which helps families book trips strategically using the right credit cards, Ms. Lipson warns against putting all your spending into one airline’s loyalty program.

“There’s an opportunity cost,” she explained. “If the points or miles lose value, you’re stuck with that one airline.”

Ms. Lipson also recommends looking into credit cards that offer automatic perks, such as hotel status or flight benefits, without being tied to a specific airline. Many of these cards also provide Global Entry or Clear membership, helping travelers breeze through security.

For travelers like Mr. Daley, an American Express Platinum card offers lounge access and other perks without being tied to any particular airline, making it a versatile option for those who prefer flexibility.

For Ms. Brantner, the ease of using a general travel rewards card is appealing—she no longer wants to spend time figuring out how to maximize points. “Just get me in the lounge, and I’m happy,” she said.