I take personal credit for Continental having to create a new award category and double the mileage required after I was actually able to book and fly a BKK-NRT-GUM-CNS-GUM-NRT-BKK award on 25K OnePass miles some years ago. Such Asia-Australia bookings from NW-only cities involving NW as well as CO metal were basically impossible and I slipped mine through (after multiple other rejected attempts) only because of SARS cancellations. Three months later they had the new category and a 50K requirement if the itin had NW metal. Others have tried to dispute my claim of credit, but I stand by it. And I'm glad it probably cost them many times the amount to create, police and administer such a narrowly focused award as they "lost" by the booking getting through.

"One airline can make a difference"? Pfah! Flyertalk can.