Originally Posted by
3Cforme
Eliminating the close-in fee is another Delta copy.
The close in fee exists to protect last-minute-fares-cost-more cash pricing.
When you just charge more miles for last minute fares to begin with it doesn't serve a function anymore. Just make the number of miles needed so exorbitant that only the cash fare is an option.
Far more effective than a close-in fee that still often isn't enough to stop cheap mileage redemptions relative to cash airfare.