Originally Posted by
linglingfool
From an accounting standpoint, I don't see how a stealth devaluation on their own metal helps them. The miles still sit on their books as a liability, and if you make it impossible to redeem, they'll sit that way.
They may not sit for long.
"Normal" people (not FTers) may simply tire of waiting for standard award availability, or face the 1 year (or whatever it is right now) expiration policy, or need to travel at the last minute and don't have the $$ to pay cash, so give up on finding a standard award and just redeem the for double or triple-miles. And people die as well.
If it stays this way, it's a devaluation plain and simple. AA's version of SkyPesos: disAAdvantaged miles.