Originally Posted by
PB53x11
Yes, but ... the finance guy inside me looks at this and wonders who is "losing". The bottom 40,000 players got something for free, so they all win. I don't change my behavior, so I win. Canadiancow does change his behaviour but has analyzed the game and wins big - and I suspect everyone in the top 30 wins. So who loses - those in spots 31 down to 200 or 300, who spend a lot of money but don't get into the big points of the top 30? And if they don't lose, the only party left is ... AC.
Perhaps everyone can win, including AC, if as you suggest seats are sold that would otherwise be empty. But as noted by several posters above, the MAX issue means there are fewer empty seats in the system than in previous years, so the upside to AC seems limited.
Actually, I do modify my behaviour in one respect: I've got some trips coming up for which I'm holding off booking so that they can count towards the contest. But it doesn't cost me (or my employer) anything.
Mr. Prairie realizes he's one extra work trip away from crossing some EYW threshold, so convinces his boss that he should go visit a client in YQR. While there, he secures a deal.
Client gets something out of it.
Mr. Prairie's company gets something out of it.
AC gets an extra trip booked.
Mr Prairie gets some more miles.
There isn't necessarily a loser there.
For those of us aiming for the top 10, it's a zero sum game, so if 11 people are gunning for it, there are increased costs all around, and someone loses. But I can easily see how this may be beneficial to AC.