Yeah, and just a few months ago they started charging for checked bags equivalent to revenue customers. They do have an option to exchange your "regular" buddy passes for an enrolled friend (or an additional one, if you already have one instead of a spouse) and I'm really glad I took that option. Enrolled friends don't pay anything to fly directly, but the IRS does see that as a taxable benefit, so I have to collect (for example) $90 from my BIL if he flies MSN-DEN-MSN to account for the IRS withholdings. My father-in-law and brother can still use my "extended family" buddy passes, which come from the same pool. Plus, the darn things are so stupidly expensive now with the fare plus imputed income that it makes no sense.