For our flying needs, it doesn't affect us.. when we fly to YVR, we fly on points.. so never earning them, but just using them.

To tell you the truth, flying for points is a hard way of earning points.. If 250 point deduction is going to have the whole world cave in (and understanding that the principal of the issue is more important than the points), then I would suggest getting a credit card that will earn more points, or new and creative ways of earning more points.

For example.. with the new AMEX AeroplanPlus Platinum, I'll be earning 1.25 points up to $10,000 threshold and 1.5 points after. I choose companies who I can charge my credit card to, such as Natural Gas, Electricity, and Water/Sewer.. on pre-authorized cc so I don't have to think about the points being earned.

Recently, in a property management company I own, we identified $500,000 of expenses per year I can run through cc, that we haven't been doing so all these years. If points are starting to concern me, then I'm going to start rackin er up.