Indeed.

Maybe you'd get a discount if an affiliated credit card holder, as they don't want to push people into the arms of cash back cards and cannibalize all their revenue that comes via selling miles to credit card companies.

The airline love affair with credit card companies may end up being the last bulwark to protect us (at least somewhat) from YQ across the board on award tickets. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a sort of Maginot Line.