Your travel saavy will rarely be your competitive advantage that gets you the job, even in consulting. Sure, you may forgo full-fare miles during recruiting season, but use the signing bonus to fuel your flying habit, and then work to optimise the travel opportunities once you land the job.

I've called out two people during the interview for inappropriately booking their travel (who would book a $400+ flight from Champaign, IL to downtown Chicago?)

I did admire one candidate who was upgraded on his DL Y-fare returning to Atlanta. I got to walk right past him to a middle seat in economy since I missed my flight (with a confirmed F seat) an hour earlier. Somehow he was also upgraded at the Peninsula Hotel the previous night (and despite multiple stays, I was moved to another hotel).