US Department of Transportation Probing Rewards Programs of Major US Airlines

The US Department of Transportation is probing the rewards programs of major US airlines to understand their impact on consumers. The probe could lead to changes that disrupt the profit centers for airlines and credit-card issuers. Loyalty programs have come under fire for luring customers with rewards and then stripping perks. The Transportation Department has taken a hard line with airlines on practices harming consumers, and the probe is the latest in a series of government actions.