I'm honestly not sure. I'm not a frequent flier. I just took a round trip flight from Philadelphia to London and they asked me if I wanted to use my miles for magazines. I said sure and chose the magazines I wanted. I didn't have many miles to begin with so I'm not sure how they could still be debiting them from my account?
Then about a year ago they send me another mag for miles letter saying that I can get another subscription. So now I'm getting 3 different magazines having no idea where they're coming from and how they're paying for it? Like you said, I'm not entirely complaining since they're send it to me for free, but I don't even read the magazines and if they wind up sending a bill to my house I'd be pissed! I mean I could always fight that saying I'm not receiving them or want them - I suppose...