Sorry number_6 not used to people from LOTFAP making any sense.

Mulling over your comment my thoughts are that as you say QF think the cost as being only minimal in providing award seats because there are few award seats. This is why people are complaining.

The award seat is regarded as a seat that may not have been sold anyway so it is not being given away because it attracts the taxes (which are neutral income) and charges which defray the fuel cost even further than the paying passengers.

IE Say history says SYD - LAX flights have on average 10 unsold seats. To give these as awards only costs the meals and refreshments at say $50 and the extra fuel to carry that one more passenger easil covered by the fuel surcharge with change to spare.

Bonus for QF when FFERS die or never spend their points.