all of this is exactly why I (A) am IN these fourms constantly trying to find ways to grab and scam as many miles as I can, and (B) have done my best to zero out many accounts and only have 3 majors in play with partner uses ready to work with:

AA, UAL, NWA.

oh sure, I have miles on others but these 3 are useful on other carries and since I have less, I acquire more on each, and thus, have the miles avail when it comes time to redeem. I do not like these weird new rule buster or premeir mileage fares that require, say, 40k when it should have been only 25k, but if I REALLY had to do it, I could, because I have racked up many by simply pulling the same crap on the airlines that they pull on us. I "RIP THEM OFF" (legally) whenever I can!

we all should. That's why AA/ebay thread, gift card threads, and others like it are so good. It's not really ripping them off but it is. Ya know?... we have to play the game!