When the ratios are this out of whack (particularly the US numbers) I do consider it a fleecing. When you read the quote from the PayPal guy - "Airline customers who are frustrated with blackout dates, and the lack of availability of rewards redemption options can now get their money quickly into their PayPal account and then spend the money the way they’d like." - it is clear that their goal is to take advantage of the uninformed rather than help a consumer make an informed decision. Any business transaction that is based on only one side understanding the actual value of the transaction is a scam, even if the terms are fully documented.