Originally Posted by
ft101
Savvy doesn't come in to it - you either have miles (in your case) or don't. Other options will be available to other travellers (flyertalkers) that you perhaps don't have access to. Doesn't make either you or them savvy or not savvy, just subject to different conditions.
Being savvy absolutely comes into play. When most people are waiting and relying on others for help, you can help yourself if you have the know how.
Even if people have the miles - from co-branded credit card spend, sub, etc, they would not have used miles anyway; instead, they would have waited for help, for the airline to get them to their destinations. I usually take matters into my hands.