The rules may change but it's still the same game. It has always been find the promo and milk it, whether it's the 2x deals last year, RDU/STL/BNA/PIT for AA, the current LAX-PVG deals on AA and UA/CO, 2x LAX/SFO-ORD/DFW etc, etc etc. Of course, it would be more appropriate to complain (the great American pastime,) about high airfares and hotel rates. I do miss the 3x promos and the low Asian and Euro fares, but nothing lasts forever.

As far as awards, I see some issues, but it is more a matter of lower capacity and more mileage balances generated with coins, credit cards etc, putting more miles into the system. That said, I still find award space that meets my needs, being flexible.