I have no problem with gov't employess keeping the miles and do feel that perhaps they do deserve a little something. My only concern is the extent that people go to to get those miles. How many travelers spend an extra $500 to travel their choise airline. I am sure that there are many on this board who are guilty of paying a higher fare to travel on their preferred carrier. It is conceivable to me that for example a person is based in nyc and makes frequent trips to chicago. On this route UA happens to give a substantial gov't discount, so the traveller racks up UA miles. Then when the traveller has to go ny-la, they find out that AA has gov't contract rate, but they flu UA anyways and pay the higher fare. If you claim that AA times were inconvenient, I doubt anyone will look into it.