Originally Posted by Aisle Seat H
Sickest and most selfish thing I have ever read on FT to date. If you don't feel ashamed of yourself frederoil you need professional help.
While (as I posted above) I haven't abused bereavement fares and I think at the least doing so would be in bad taste, I don't really think what is being suggested is as bad as what the airlines do themselves.
Consider the "Donate your miles to TragedyVictims/KidsWith/Cancer/ServicemenOnLeave/etc." Programs that the airlines often run:
Let's say they sell 25K mile to a credit card company for $200 (probably a low figure). Then someone who earns the miles from the CC company donates them back to help some deserving soul get a free Domestic Saver Award. The marginal cost to them on this award is likely to be less than $30. So They are making $170 bucks on someone's generosity.
If they had any integrity they would make an offer of "donate 5K miles and we'll give someone in need an award seat". . . .and they'd still likely make a slight profit on the transaction. Until they do that, I am not going to look down on someone that abuses bereavement fares and costs the airlines some extra profit.