It is still possible to be billed by the carrier and pay with your credit card though. Every month I call MCI and say I want to make a "one time payment" with my credit card, which they happily take. I do the same thing every month, collect the miles, but am able to make sure they do not go crazy with my card.

As for staying away from them -- at 5000 miles per month, that's hard to do. <g>