Mileage Guru Petersen who is "No Fan of Awards Brokering"

By CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS TIMES STAFF WRITER

Randy Petersen, the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based editor and publisher of the Inside Flyer newsletter and perhaps the nation's leading authority on frequent-flier programs, says the brokering of mileage coupons isn't officially illegal in any state but Utah, where the practice was barred about two years ago.
However, Petersen also says that as the economy has sputtered and the airline industry has cut domestic prices, the mileage coupon-brokering industry has shriveled from more than $100 million a year in 1989 to about $25 million now. As the market has contracted, Petersen suggests, the reputation of brokers has suffered.
And since airlines typically earmark just 10% or fewer of their seats for travelers using mileage awards, those who buy or trade for coupons often gain their seats at the expense of travelers who have followed the airlines' restrictions to the letter. That, says Petersen, doesn't seem sporting.

Mileage brokers spend alot of time and money advertising the sell of frequent flier miles. The only way brokers make real money is off business and first class international airline tickets. Which by the way the ailines charge $4,000 to $12,000 for!! Could you emagine how hard it is for a broker to find a client willing to buy a ticket for half that price or even a quarter?? Does Mr. Peterson know how hard it is to find such clients? Sporting ? Does the mileage member have the energy or the time to go looking for such clients? Does the mileage member have the time to screen every call they recieve to make sure it is not the airlines trying to close their account? Look most brokers are X Travel Agents who have been squeezed out of the travel business by the airlines cutting the commisions. Most brokers could be an executive for the airlines (thats how good they are). If Mr. Peterson is an authority on frequent flier miles boy I must be a GOD!