"But how can they offer more than 100% of seats on every flight each and every day for award redemption, which is what they do now?"


Randy,

Well that's one we're are going to have to "agree to disagree on", as I would venture to say the average frequent flyer looks at it from a different perspective. Plus the fact that it's just not true in every case as you would imply.

For example: Northwest Airlines Rulebuster awards are still capacity controlled. Southwest Airlines, in the past the airline with the least restrictions, will soon have capacity controls on all flights, and will not be offering a double mileage award. And in almost all cases the double mileage awards that you are speaking of are not available on partner carriers.

Even without those examples the average frequent flyer expects to be able to use a standard award on their trip (knowing that they may have to be a little flexable). And as is so often the case it just not available. And that frustrates many people into feeling that they'd been promised this "free" trip, and then the airlines haven't played fair with them.

Here's an example: Houston to Denver on Continental Airlines departing July 8th, returning July 9th and not one seat is available in coach class on any flight in either direction. And when speaking with Continental I get the response that the awards seats are all booked up. So I then ask about August 12th, returning on the 13th - and still not one seat in either direction.

Is there a chance that numerous frequent flyers have booked up every seat? Maybe! But I would venture to say that they just haven't made many, if any seats available.

So how do we prove that the airlines haven't made ANY seats available. And is that fair if they don't make any seats at all available for a standard award?
Would you change your statement if I found a flight that no standard award seats were available on, and yet no seats had been sold at all. This may not be easy to prove in coach class, but it's very easy to do so in First Class. As I have done so in the past. I've requested award space in first class on a flight before, been told that nothing was available (that all standard award seats had been booked), hung up and proceeded to purchase (knowing that I could then cancel the reservations) every seat in first class.

I have the feeling the most people would disagree with your attitude that the airlines are playing fair. IMHO