Originally Posted by JS
I wouldn't worry about people who don't use miles in the best manner.
Redeeming miles is a zero-sum game. Every person who finds out how best to maximize their miles is one less award seat on that long flight to LIH for the rest of us.
I strongly encourage everyone to tell their friends and co-workers to not hesitate burning miles for DFW-ABQ and BUR-SFO round trips.
Loose lips sink ships.
Bingo. While I hate to see a fellow FTer's parent waste frequent flyer miles, the large number of people out there that don't bother saving/redeeming miles at all or blow them on a "low value" reward make it possible for the reward levels to be what they are for those of us that are savvy. If every flyer in the world had the savvy that people on this site do, then the airlines wouldn't offer much of an awards program since it would be losing tons of money to the likes of us overall.
I paid for just two cheapo flights on Delta after also getting in on the IC Hotel deal in August and am now about to use the 50,000 miles I have with them (started at zero) to go to N. Africa. Two mid-range domestic and one mid-range int'l ticket for about $500 after tax? They simply couldn't afford these loyalty programs if everyone were like us when it comes to playing the game.
peace,
~Ben~