Does buying airline tickets with zero regard to miles save more cold hard cash? Perhaps, but not necessarily.

1. Some people waste money by overvaluing the miles and/or elite status benefits and providing the "loyalty" program more regard than it deserves in ticket purchase decisions. They could save real money by having zero regard to the "loyalty" program miles earned from flight activity.

2. Other people save money by properly valuing (or even undervaluing) the miles and/or elites status benefits and providing the "loyalty" program some regard in ticket purchase decisions. They could lose real money by having zero regard to the "loyalty" program miles earned from flight activity.