Your point about the airlines changing their systems is a very good one that I hadn't really thought about. I still don't think two wrongs make a right, but when I earn miles thinking that 100,000 of them will get two of us to Hawaii in first class, and later find out that it will take 150,000: that's not much different than if they just flat out took miles out of my account. If we truly are equal combatants in this battle that is flying from point A to point B (and we all know it *is* a battle), then one could argue that seizing 60,000 extra miles is simply a small win to be considered among an endless string of wins and losses.

In a way, it's sad that we think of it this way. If my local taco stand gave me $10 too much change, I wouldn't think twice about pointing it out. Of course, if my local taco stand charged some people 99 cents and others $15 for a taco, or if they made some people wait 30 seconds and others 30 minutes for a taco, or if they promised you every 10th taco free and then changed it to every 20th right after you finished eating your 9th taco....I just might feel differently.

We can agree on one thing: it's a great debate!