Many are called, but few are chosen. It seems that often when I tell people about what can truly be accomplished, they find it almost too outrageous to believe. ("Normal" people just don't go on mileage runs, do they?) That said, I think that the best times for these types of programs may be behind us now. Devaluations of programs over the past several years have been numerous and today's announcement by Continental that low-cost fares will only earn half credit toward elite status is just more writing on the wall. I don't like it, but I believe that the trend is not our friend right now...