Excuse me. I take personal offense to this comment as the person who initiated this topic. Your comment was out-of-line and uncalled for, and I believe an apology is in order.

I am not someone who has just gotten on a plane for the first time within the past year and realized what great benefits frequent flyers get. For my first five years out of college, I worked for an international consulting firm on different projects within the country. Those years I flew a minimum of one trip per week while staffed out of town and now, since taking a job which requires less travel, still average 50,000 miles per year between leisure and business.

My initial post is based on a sound business argument -- when facing a drastic loss of revenue, you need to combat the problem two ways: by cutting costs AND increasing revenue, because neither effort will accomplish everything that is needed to be done.

In addition, people truly have a fear of the unknown. Right now, air travel is back to the unknown for many people, including myself -- as I have not travelled since Labor Day weekend. Giving away air travel does not make sense, but I believe that most people will fly again some sooner, some later. As horrible as it may be to admit it, discounts will get some people back in the seats quicker than they might otherwise.

Greg