Agreed -- and I'd add partner awards that are searchable / bookable online, and appear confirmed when you pull the trigger, but actually require some sort of manual confirmational backstage follow-through by one or both airlines involved (the one whose FF program it is, or the partner).

This follow-through action often doesn't occur timely, or gets screwed up. Then when you lose an itinerary that seemed set, the airline just shrugs and you have no recourse -- unless you count hoping your itinerary will magically come available again, which it never does.

The human error factor nailing down partner awards is infuriating. The customer can do everything right and still lose.