Originally Posted by
silver-tls
We just finished the Thanksgiving holiday and fast approaching Christmas. How many of you find yourselves turning down requests from family, friends and co-workers asking if you can give them some miles since they are 'free'.
I usually reserve my miles to redeem tickets for my wife and immediate family while purchasing revenue tickets for myself (I can't bear to get on a plane knowing I'm not earning anything by doing so! I blame FT!) Every year I find myself turning down requests from random friends who complain about a $500 fare to FLL to see their family for Christmas and ask if they can have some of those 'free miles' I have sitting in my account and not using. Do I ask you for $500 from your bank account since its sitting there and you're not using it? People tend to forget that miles have value and they aren't free. They're earned one way or another!
I think the phenomenon described above is something common to US contemporary culture. Family members, friends, coworkers, etc, outside the US have never asked me for money, free tickets, etc. However, US friends and co-workers have on occasion asked for spot loans, miles to top-up their own award requests, etc, and I don't mind donating occasionally, but it depends on my mood. Overall, I do see this as being indicative that there is a comfort level with the culture of begging in the US, and I view the Halloween tradition of sending children to stranger's houses to beg for sweets in the same light.