It all adds up to a daunting set of rules for frequent-flier programs. As Gary Leff, creator of the travel blog View From the Wing, put it, airline customers need to believe that it’s worth spending the time to wade through the rules and plan their travel in a way that benefits them.

Travelers should keep in mind, Mr. Leff said, that the airline programs have become less rewarding. Tickets cost more to redeem, and because flights are fuller, they are harder to redeem, he said.

The airlines do not release figures on the number of frequent fliers. But Mr. Leff said he believed that the number of elite status fliers had actually increased from a decade ago. That’s because more people are flying more miles now, he said, and because airline mergers have made it easier to concentrate trips on one brand.

Those who attain elite status can get hooked on the benefits. Andrea Umbach, an executive coach in Seattle, found that her Alaska status meant she could change or cancel an Alaska ticket without a fee.

“I could book a trip to a client meeting or conference far enough in advance to get a good price, but could change it without spending a lot if my plans changed,” she said. That helps her manage her business expenses.

Ms. Umbach is spending January looking at her plans for travel this year with an eye on retaining her MVP Gold frequent-flier status — the second level of status. She plans to check in on her progress periodically and make extra flights at the end of the year if she needs to.

For those who like to plan ahead, January is a good time to read airline and credit card website details and think about the next 12 months of travel, Mr. Leff said. Travelers should look at airlines’ schedules and destinations, and the benefits offered at each elite flier level. Then, he said, they should approximate the travel they will do and see what status levels they can achieve.