One day soon when we talk about past trips flying overseas for free, there will be gasps of amazement. I foresee the day when we'll be asked to redeem our miles for catalog items only as they zero out all our accounts, like Goldpoints is doing by the end of December. Instead of flying somewhere, we will out be giving Waveradios to all our relatives as Christmas gifts.

I have always believed in burning miles. I booked business class Cairo and Bali award trips in 2009 for Mrs. Outoftown and I, burning a half million miles on DL and US. Now I have to figure out how to get away with more vacation days for these two trips than I am allotted for the year.

-outoftown