Booking higher fares for the miles isn't just a problem with government employees - lots of corporations have discounts with one or another airline, but if it's not the employee's preferred airline then the employee has an incentive to find a "work-around." I don't have a problem with the employee (corporate or government) booking a different airline as long as the fare is the same (or even less!); I realize that the employer may lose a bit in this case because the volume on the "preferred" airline is reduced, but I'm willing to accept that as a "cost" of keeping employees happy and willing to travel (often outside of 9-to-5 hours).