Good point.

Another option to consider is to plan and budget for paid discount tickets, if even occasionally for significant family events.

You still need two flights (on any airline) for the commuter policy, but it is nice to walk up to an oversold flight with zero stress when you have big plans.

Or go big. I flew with a guy recently that has Gold status on UAL because he buys a ticket every time using the UAL discount. The guy realized that he was not gonna move anytime soon, his only stress was commuting, he could save hotel costs, and even at several thousand dollars per year it was still a fraction of his household income.