The whole idea of the top up function is this. Firstly they reduced the earn rates to a point where you can hardly earn enough points to redeem for any flight practically making Airpoint useless for most people. In order to fix this problem, they invented the top up function so effectively you pay to get a reward flight. But we have to ask ourselves: since when are rewards not free? Since when do we have to pay for loyalty? So with other airlines you pay to fly with them and they reward you. With Airpoints, you pay to fly with them but you also pay for your rewards. I think Simon is totally losing it with his "earn to fly" model. Let's hope the new guy will be different. But with his finance background I wouldn't hold my breath.