To be clear, I entirely agree that Delta's terms are unfair, and perhaps unreasonable. But they are the terms he signed up to. Whether the travel agent did it at his instigation is beside the point - it was his responsibility to check the t&cs. I still think that having to set up an account in a false name should have rung some alarm bells - at least enough to make him check the t&cs. I'm fully prepared to believe it was through naivety rather than dishonest intent, but the outcome is the same, and he shouldn't be surprised to be penalised when the airline (eventually) caught up with him.

According to his blog he had redeemed the cello's air miles to fly the cello, so he did receive the benefit.

It's difficult to understand why Delta took so long to take action after it apparently came to their attention in 2001. I wonder whether a statute of limitation should apply?