my former boss used to try to sneak his poodle on board without paying the $50 fee (in 2006) and would always get caught when the damn thing started barking, lol

I agree its a nice way to earn 2 bonus points but on short trips it will be more expensive to fly your dog to the destination than what your ticket would have cost you... than again, with the current high fares, its about the same price to fly your dog under the seat in front of you as you'd pay for your seat.