This brings up a point, which I hope someone out there could clarify for me. I never understood why frequent fliers are asked to donate miles for charitable causes. Don't the airlines themselves have enough resources (not to mention a big tax write-off), if they THEMSELVES just offered free seats to those in need? Don't corporations do charitable acts of kindness? What better show of support than an airline offering free seats to cancer or transplant patients? What about to Red Cross workers? Surely, an airline can set aside a seat or two on several flights a day, as needed...

I know the airlines are in financial trouble, etc., but frequent flier awards don't bring in cash revenue either. Why have this whole runaround? Am I the only one out there for whom this whole "donate your miles" as opposed to charitable acts by airlines just doesn't make sense?

(I hope no one gets offended by my post. I am not ignorant, and have no intentions to sound rude.)