He, um, well...didn't earn it. That's something I truly don't get. Why do people who fall just short think that they should get the next level just because they came just short? And I'm not even going after FT-like-minded people. If you are Joe Schmuck the business traveler and your status matters to you for any number of good and perfectly valid reasons, why would you not do your homework to ensure that you meet your goal? It's no different than a sales rep making his or her number for the quarter or year. If an end-of-year MR or weekend to Whocaresville is needed to get those last few miles or segments, then guess what? Pack your bags.

The sad part is the airlines are in a lose-lose boat...they lose by encouraging bad behavior since they created their own bad precedent of bumping people up, and they lose by giving those next-level goodies to people that did not earn them.

I'm not one of those people from UA-land who thinks an EUA system is patently offensive, nor am I an upgrade snob. For the record, I have never held an airline status.

So, in the end, your mistakenly spiteful comment is completely lost on me.