channa, well stated. Over on DL, there seem to be a number of people in this same situation. How utterly absurd...not ever, as a member of any other FFP, including notorious ones like KL FD, have I been DISincentivized from crossing a threshold. Especially a top-tier one. DL's strategy is astonishing, when viewed from this perspective. It's the double-action of a. rollover EQM and b. a worthless top tier that is causing this problem.

When put in context with OP miles that are worth much more, amazingly so in cases like the one I detailed, which represents my typical use of mileage, then the SM program offers very little value.

SM offers little value, as a whole. Scott O'Leary offered some rather specific criticisms of the DL PMU model in his recent webcast. His observation that highly restrictive instruments of that type frustrated more customers than they pleased was right on.

Over here, it would be much better if CO offered us a meaningful fourth tier, yes. But as you say, even without that, it's better to fly CO.

But, on the whole, CO's management is better than DL's management. The OP program deficiencies are less objectionable than SM.

I know AA's top tier offering is better and if I could only ever use AA, it'd be much better for me...but the OneWorld version of an "alliance" is laughable. And BA are horrendous, much worse even than DL.