Several years ago, my Grandmother used something like 95,000 UA miles to get a free DVD player, worth all of $125. She accumulated most of them over about 10 years, a trip or two a year and a UA credit card. She had no idea of their value.

She was so proud of herself for getting something so valuable "for nothing more than some worthless points." As sick to my stomach as I was, I didn't have the heart to tell her, either.