Price increases are always occuring. If a product is in greater demand, as award seats are on many routes, then why should these not rise after several years too? We never hear complaints about all the bonus miles given out, or increased means of earning miles. Only when the award charts change upward. I think airlines and hotels have ruined their programs by permitting miles/points to be earned with credit cards and by other non-travel related means. This inflates the number of miles in circulation, and to maintain a relative value to awards, forces them up.

I think HiltonHonors has been the bigggest offender this past year, giving out its 50K/4 stays bonus as well as Gold status willy nilly. No wonder it is raising its prime VIP awards.

I suppose for those of us who lived through the period of high inflation in the 70s and early 80s, this means a lot less to those who have experienced little of this, even in the booming 90s.