Well, as I discussed above, your relatively low fee gives rise to an inference that the time and level of service is limited. A terrible irony indeed if you are providing service "worth" $500 for $50, as providing a bargain should never give rise to an inference that your service is limited. The Manhattan lawyers who you serve likely have billable rates of $500, or even more - $50 is six minutes of their time. Assisting with award seat bookings, of course. will never command the same rates as Manhattan lawyers.

Given that you are Manhattan based and have a scarce skill which requires some thoughtful creativity, insight, the development of knowledge, constant updating and monitoring of the market in which you work, and (hopfully little) time at $0 when you do not succeed in a booking, I would hope you view your effective billable rate as about $200/hr or that this is otherwise something that brings you non-monetary satisfaction.

I'm a lawyer myself, and work in the public sector. My friends think of me as Ryan Bingham (little do they know that, chez FT, I am a sorry piker). I stay on top of the "miles industry", and they appreciate the bycatch I generate. I actually have a buddy to whom I refer as my status sponge. And at times I advise them on how to score deals whose availability requires particularized knowledge - they reciprocate in kind when I need their skills. But the handholding I provide is at a level which I would never provide a complete stranger for $50.

Pitbrian, what you charge is your business, but please do not be surprised when one infers lesser service from the price you charge. Odd, I know, but this service is far more complex than booking a flight from JFK to LAX, which a moron travel agent charges $25. If you must charge $50 to build the business and develop clientele, I understand, but don't seel yourself short!