I'm pretty unusual, methinks!

My past history was to shop price above all, but accumulate miles in all programs.

My exposure to FlyerTalk convinced me that elite status might be in reach, and I first reached Silver on Delta (with the help of the 10K status miles on the Amex).

When NW and CO became partners, and as I became wiser in the ways of FlyerTalk I also achieved silver on NW.

(I did not consolidate and shoot for gold, as it still helped my penny-pinching ways to spread my travel out.)

Delta's recent changes affected me differently than the various platinums. Knowing that the least expensive fares would only received 50% credit made me skeptical of the ability to continue qualifying for DL silver, so I had basically decided to focus on CO/NW with all miles going to Worldperks.

CO's decision to do something similar left me in a bit of a quandary. Thinking NW might do the same made me wonder about choosing UA or AA as my primary carrier.

I was relieved by NW's decision not to penalize the least expensive fares. They also included the curious stipulation that the cheap CO metal flights would receive 50% elite credit but the cheap DL flights would receive full elite credit on Worldperks.

So now I am at the point of likely minimizing my travel on CO, particularly when the cheapest fares are involved...maximizing my NW travel, and yet also making room for booking very competitive DL fares, (foregoing upgrades for the moment) and posting those DL flights to my Worldperks account.

More than you wanted to know! Stay tuned for further adjustments!

[This message has been edited by Watchful (edited 11-03-2003).]