Not wanting to become the Dave Carroll of the classical music world, solo cellist Lynn Harrell purchases a second seat for his cello when they travel together. This should keep everyone happy. The airline sells an extra seat to a very quiet and compliant passenger, and Harrell racks up extra frequent flyer miles that he can put toward future travel for his cello. Delta isn’t happy, though: they’ve kicked him out of their frequent-flyer program and banned him from it forever. His crime? Accruing the frequent-flyer miles that the airline granted to his cello.

It’s not exactly a scam to earn free vacations, since he will keep buying full-fare tickets for his instrument for the rest of his career. Okay, it is against the SkyMiles terms and conditions, but you can’t blame Harrell for being ignorant. (Maybe you can if you’ve read the T&C of every purchase you’ve ever made and every service and account you’ve ever signed up for. No? Okay then.) Delta’s been letting him get away with this horrible crime against air travel for eleven years. They just got around to scolding him for it now, and are confiscating his balance of miles and any outstanding travel certificates.
http://consumerist.com/2012/11/13/de...-its-own-seat/

I bet they're having second thoughts now with the press this is getting...and why would they be going after this guy anyway? I'd rather sit next to a cello than a person anyway !