I also wonder (for no personal reason) what the new level will be. Perhaps they'll reduce SuperElite to 70k and create a new UltraElite (omnilingual name) at 100k, the new SE having a few fewer benefits (like say upgrades at 100h instead of time-of-booking) and the new UE retaining time-of-booking upgrades. Certainly they'll have to take away benefits if they drop the requirement to 70k. And perhaps not give class-of-service on upgraded fares.

Are there any more benefits they could actually give UEs? I notice AA has just started automatic complimentary upgrades from Y for EPs. I guess that's to compete with TWA, although the latter offers it to anyone paying for Y, but I think only on connections through STL (perhaps to make up for a lack of non-stop or direct flights in their schedule). If AC did that, it would also be a way to give UEs unlimited upgrades if they were paying enough. They could give this to the new SE too, or perhaps allow SE to upgrade from Y at time of booking but from all other fares at 100h.

Or maybe free lounge membership to UE (I know we all get that now, but under certain circumstances that could become an UE benefit).

Perhaps this hypothetical UE will only count points earned on SE-upgrade-eligible fares? Or count Y fares at 125%.

And what about Prestige? I frankly didn't care at all, but the carrot (or possibility of a carrot) that Prestige might have some limited value, perhaps on a par with CP Club (pre-2000) is actually making me care whether I end up just under or just over 18k this year!

andrew