US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - What would you do?

Sorry for the open-ended post; just a little peeved and it blocks my creativity.

I was waitlisted for an Envoy upgrade using miles to CDG. I had to cancel the flight.
I notice my miles were gone, so I ask to have them back (I never heard that I WAS upgraded, BTW).
I get this:
"Once an upgrade is requested and you cancel your flight, a redeposit fee is required. This policy went into effect on April 1, 2004.

*There is a service fee of $50 for each upgrade"

Okay. So maybe I'm not as diligent in reading all the fine print. But, ya know, couple this with all the stuff going on, the resignations, the BOA 15k lie, the RJs, ...it just feels like the straw (you know which one.)

My question:
If it were you, would you pay the $100 ransom to get the miles back?

If you're upgrading from a roach fare and you spent 60,000 miles upgrading, I'd pay the $100 for them back. If less, I'm not sure what I'd do.

Never heard of it before. Just another prime example of a customer-milking, completely unnecessary, punitive fee. Creative, though.

I'd probably pay but I'd try to get US to reduce the fees-- I thought that redeposit fees were waived for Preferreds (having been through a similar thing before when I cancelled an award ticket).

What if you got waitlisted before the new redeposit fee policy went into effect on April 1? If you booked your ticket and got waitlisted before then, you could argue that the implied contract that you had with US didn't include redeposit fees being charged. Who knows if they'll go for that lawyerly argument, though.

If it's a penalty fee, then shame on them for doing it--especially as they bleed money and customers. If they're claiming it's an administrative fee, then I think they should charge you only $50 since this happening all at once. If it's one call and one conversation then it's not going to take twice as much on their part (and, ergo, twice the fee) to redeposit. And for 60,000 miles, I'd pay the $50.

Wanted to follow up on the outcome...

I called, spoke with Doris. Told her I was never notified of the upgrade going through. After a long time on hold, she came back and waved the fee without complaint.

I've gotta say, I don't know what my future holds with (or without) US. But I continue to appreciate the people I interact with there. They've always treated me well. To quote Al, "Everytime I think I'm out, they pull me back in."