{"items": [{"author": "Randy", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/102251509192760989541", "anchor": "gp-1442151256856", "service": "gp", "text": "What makes better in-flight snacks different from a kickback, except perhaps magnitude? \u00a0Marketing, and kickbacks, are about trying to convince people to buy your product. \u00a0They're is all points on a spectrum. \u00a0We draw a line at some point on that spectrum. \u00a0That's why corporate bribery rules often have a \"accept no gifts over X$\" as opposed to just accept no gifts.", "timestamp": 1442151256}, {"author": "Randy", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/102251509192760989541", "anchor": "gp-1442151400183", "service": "gp", "text": "Another wrinkle, that may or may not change the basic analysis: When I'm flying on business travel, I'm explicitly balancing the good of the company and my own good. \u00a0I don't take red-eye flights, and that costs the company money. \u00a0Am I wrong to do so? \u00a0I'd argue that I'm not--that I get to judge the relative costs of various options to me and the company and make the decision as to what the right balance is. \u00a0Kickbacks (and frequent flyer miles) feel different, possibly because they aren't about balancing costs, but balancing a cost (to the company) against a gain (to me).", "timestamp": 1442151400}, {"author": "Marcus", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/115811589251174483775", "anchor": "gp-1442329909363", "service": "gp", "text": "Hah. Back in the day airlines gave business travelers a free bottle of booze if they bought a more expensive fare that was otherwise equivalent. Frequent flier miles are peanuts, so to speak, compared to that.", "timestamp": 1442329909}, {"author": "Thomas", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/108101195700306283514", "anchor": "gp-1444855295920", "service": "gp", "text": "Not peanuts. I would think that, without FF miles, US citizens and residents would fly 1/5-1/3 less -- mostly marginally useful business travel.", "timestamp": 1444855295}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1444858883197", "service": "gp", "text": "@Thomas\n\u00a0How do you get 20%-33% of our air traffic being these miles? \u00a0Just an idea that people fly for business more than they would otherwise in order to get the miles?", "timestamp": 1444858883}, {"author": "Thomas", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/108101195700306283514", "anchor": "gp-1444873885212", "service": "gp", "text": "Yes. The business trips cost them nothing at all, and the miles pay for their families' vacations as an untaxed benefit. With current technologies (skype and better), many business trips -- and many academic trips -- could easily be replaced by virtual meetings. But people are very concerned to maintain their \"elite status\" and perks and mileage bonuses, so they go on flying. Evidence is anecdotal (overhearing flier talk), but I am sure the airlines have done precise marketing research.\u00a0", "timestamp": 1444873885}]}