I would love to trust loyalty programs, I really want to. But only if that loyalty is returned. I was loyal to AA, but when I try to book a business class award
to Europe, they want to route me onto Air Berlin (no business class within europe), or on BA through LHR (extra taxes). No, I want to fly on American, so I have to book several oneway tickets to take advantage of my many miles. Same with United, they always want to send me through IAD or through IAH on an LH 380 (hate IAD and hate the business seats on that plane). They don't want the easiest and most direct route for me on an award ticket. So I go to whoever gets me what I want and be damned with the loyalty to any of them. If I have to pay for a ticket, I won't be loyal to them. I go for whoever has the best price for me at that moment.