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Airlines are gearing up for summer travel season. One that experts say is shaping up to be the busiest ever. One way Airlines are getting ready, is to boost their loyalty programs Loyalty programs are huge moneymakers for airlines, and this year's pent-up travel demand gives them a rare opportunity, When habits are up for grabs, to get you to choose their airline. Delta's new "buy now, pay later" option lets customers create a fixed monthly payment plan, with no interest, if they book their flight using Delta's co-branded American Express credit card. And airlines push those credit cards because they make money by selling frequent-flyer points to banks, which then award them to credit card holders as rewards for purchases such as at hotels and restaurants or for groceries. Today's loyalty programs extend far beyond flying. Delta SkyMiles members, for example, now can get a free Instacart Express trial for up to 12 months and earn miles with every grocery delivery. The big picture: Loyalty programs — especially branded credit cards — have become increasingly lucrative to airlines.