HI sdsearch, I totally agree with what you have said. And that is true. However, there are people not like us. I was readying a thread on SAS forum, there's a guy wants to get *G with less spending on airfare. That is understandable, however, what I believe is you can't get *G or*S unless you have spend big money, or you are not the one pays for the ticket such as business travel. Everyone one wants to have free travel or get upgrade, me too. So there will be someone can get it and can't.

Like you said, if you book early then you will be able to get a seat, but the question is how can you know that you will be travelling on the 25th Nov in year 2007 at 15:35pm from LAX-AKL? I noticed that in the most European countries or western countries people book one year ahead and they get cheap ticket. However, when time gets closer they change their plans and they have to paid heaps more money to get it changed, so what is the point to book early. I'm talking about international travel. BUT, in New Zealand, it's really sad I found, even for domestic flight people have to book a few month ahead in order to get a seat or a cheap ticket. When I was in China, it never been a problem for me at all, if you are leaving for PEK from XIY, you just give the travel agent a call and there are always seats and cheap as well. Not only for that rout but there are so many routs in China are like that. Book a seat a few month a year ahead that is just funny, and the travel agent won't sell it to you,( they said to me" sorry the computer is not allowed me to book you two month ahead") It could be just the computer booking system's problem. By the way, I had redeem a seat before in China and it was very cool! easy! I booked only 1 week before the date that I was travelling.

I found Air New Zealand's FF program is very nice! You use your Air Points as real money, as long as there is a seat then you can pay for that seat with you airpoint dollar, the only problem is really hard to to earn air points dollars. At end of the day, it's all worth earning it, coz you know you will get a seat unless it's a full flight and no tickets at all.