This whole miles-for-merchandise mini-movement is being forced onto the airlines by their own inability to make good on the promise of free award seats.

Airlines will come out with a fare, but then be forced to lower it as the day of the flight arrives. It's like they're playing a game of chicken with the passengers, and whoever blinks first wins. Usually, it?s the carrier who blinks.

The big issue is award availability. Whenever you have a capacity reduction, that inevitably translates directly into fewer award seats, and I have no doubt that will happen in this case.

It is a mess in the offing. The whole situation is coming apart at the seams. From a consumer standpoint, it has to be very, very troubling.

A lot of consumers use the term 'bait and switch' when they hear this.

Our inability to guard continues to be very problematic.