Originally Posted by
westcoastman
This is so true. Think about 40-50k for a peak domestic coach ticket, the fact that an ignorant flyer might book something like that with the logic "i've got lots of miles I don't use", and the relative value of that many miles.
I was such an ignorant flyer. The choice was restricted dates with more miles or restricted dates and lots of $$. I chose to burn the miles, and have been proven right and managed to avoid all manners of fees. I even "bought" a free ticket to Europe to a friend so she could visit her daughter; my friend saved $1800, well worth the 100k miles that would have been lost had I not burned them.
The correct logic is that miles are worthless unless you use them. Sitting on a 100k's miles and waiting so you can finesse the system is essentially pointless unless you are willing to travel when and where the airlines want you to.
"Free" travel on miles will soon be a thing of the past; the value of the FFPs will be in getting status so you don't have to pay the silly fees that are now tacked on everything from luggage to seat selection to soda cans.