Originally Posted by travelalot5
Missy - I don't think you'll find any mention by me anywhere in FT about being an airline employee and I think your posting of inaccurate information inappropriate.
I can't see that you explicitly say so. However, you are certainly more pro-airline employees than many FT posters. And you have remarkable knowledge of the way in which AS GAs get feedback. And of the terminology and ins and outs of the GA job. So I'm still prepared to bet you either are, have been, or know an AS GA.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...49#post3656949
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386035
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...51#post3409651
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...99#post3386499
As for the substance of the post - it is the airline's fault for creating systems (elite tiers based on mileage, miles on the cheapest fares, fare systems so complicated that $1.87 base fares can go out without being checked). They reap what they sow. Notice that airlines where elite status is based on flying in premium classes don't get these kind of status frenzies quite so much as the US based carriers. And if no miles (or 25% like on BA) were awarded for cheap fares, then nobody would see the need to do mileage runs. If airlines don't like the behaviors their systems encourage, then let them change the system. I am all in favor of this since I think FF schemes encourage perverse behavior among those who care about them. So yes, I think the goose is good to die. So to some extent, I agree with you,
travelalot5.
Oh yeah: do I think it would be a good thing if airlines were able to shut down the $1.87 fares rather than have people buying 50 tickets to ART? Yes, of course I do. But until they do, I don't see anything wrong with exploiting their errors. I bought one myself - but only one (I'm not a mileage runner myself and I certainly have better uses of my time).