Originally Posted by
A_Lee
Exactly what I was thinking. This change ONLY affects ROP members in needing more miles for an award. Thus after a short period when many existing ROP members burn their remaining miles, there will likely be much fewer ROP members redeeming their miles on TG flights, and so increasing the likelihood of non-ROP members in being able to get awards on TG flights. I don't know what TG's goals are, but being this move seems likely to increase non-ROP awards on their flights and reduce ROP awards on their flights, seems they'll be making less money off of award travel in the future.
No one knows what it is but Thai might actually like the revenue they get off other *A partners for 'selling' their award seats. This might be better dollar wise to them than their own members using their miles on Thai flights, this is pretty much the only conclusion I can come to.