Originally Posted by
mikew99
I'm not sure that I see "mileage runs" the same way you do. First of all, 100% of my travel is discretionary. I don't travel for work, so I don't need to travel anywhere if I don't want to.
As a (former) mileage runner, I gave AA money for distressed inventory (deep-discount seats that would otherwise be empty and would earn nothing for AA). In return, AA gave me funny money called points, which I used to purchase other distressed inventory (i.e., award seats that would otherwise be empty and earn nothing for AA).
So from my perspective, mileage runs are pure profit for AA, because I gave AA money for seats that would otherwise be empty. I do agree that now (unlike before the changes) mileage runs no longer make sense -- at least for me. AA still sells seats to the HVF that justify flying the plane, but the seats I used to give free money to AA for now fly empty.
Perhaps you are just attempting to justify your opinion. You said the you “which I used to purchase other distressed inventory (i.e., award seats that would otherwise be empty and earn nothing for AA).”
IMO that is a very unusual strategy on the use of miles. I have never used miles for an award for a seat that would otherwise be empty. I would just buy it. Most of us use miles to purchase an award for a ticket that otherwise would be expensive.