AAaLot - I'm having a hard time with your reason that as miles are easier to get they have less value? I can't see how that is so? Does that mean if miles were harder to earn - example: no miles on discount flights or less partners - that miles would have more value?

As for less value than last week? That's only if you are one that wants to change your plans. The actual award costs the same number of miles, nothing else has changed. I guess I could say that if i had traded all my money in for miles a few months back it would be of less value to me today since the price of first class stamps went up as did the price of gasoline recently.

One thing is very true - these changes are not universal - non-elites are not effected; those that don't chage award travel dates are not effected. It's selective value that might change, but as i noted, you must balance that against the things that happen on the plus side.

I find this discussion to be pretty interesting - thanks.