DHacker: I got to hand it to you, that was pretty nifty research. But if you read United's Rule 8, I did not violate the rules.

Maybe people misunderstood my initial point. I am all for "bending" the programs within their rules. As I see it, a mileage run is bending the rules. The airlines didn't necessarily count on people doing it, but it is not really violating the letter or the spirit of the rules. But when people specifically try to get miles assigned to someone other than who flew those miles, that's a pretty clear violation. What I'm talking about is people who say, "I know I'm violating the rules, but do people see anything wrong with it."

And I understand peoples' frustration with flying these days (although I don't really know the specifics of the Continental complaints). But just because the airlines treat you badly, that doesn't justify you breaking the rules. After all, if they break the rules, they get sued or have to give you vouchers or put you on another flight or put you up in a hotel, and so on and so on. And trust me, they get sued all the time. So when they violate the rules, they do have to pay up. When you violate the rules, most times you don't get caught.

And as for DHacker's point, I'm not perfect. I've tried not to break the rules. As many of us know, the more we learn about the programs, the more the loopholes become apparent. I admit, I came up with a pretty good bumping scheme. (I won't reveal it). I even tried it. It didn't work. But I didn't feel right doing it and I told myself I wouldn't try it again. And I haven't. I'm not perfect. But I think we can make this board better if we focus on exploiting the full value of the programs within their rules, not ways to violate those rules and not get caught.

Yes, it does get gray often. That's why we have each other. So when someone says, should I go ahead with a plan that is a clear violation of the rules, I think we, as a community, should help that person say no.