[RedScopeAlpha]

Ok Mr Knowitall. Using your logic, why have such a scheme in the first place? Why not sell flights as they do and instead of feeding the 'scraps' to Avios members, why don't they make even more money by selling the scraps for next to nothing at the last minute? I'm fairly sure they would sell. People would travel more even if it wasn't planned if the flights are cheap. Oh yeah, hang on, they won't do that otherwise they become no different to the Ryans and Easy who don't have frivolous 'reward' schemes.
I know about the need for making profit as I do run my own business, but I also realise the need to look after my loyal customers and keeping them on my side if I'm to survive.
Only answer is to either limit such schemes to a few (as they did) or be done with such schemes.