I am now buying Z/consolidator biz fares but taking the airline that offers the best fare and service. I have a bias for *A for another 6 months because I am using up my UA miles on a family trip next April and might want to change dates/routings on short notice without penalty. But the extra 25% EQM bonus for Z is not enough to put me on UA unless fares are competitive. Nor will I pay Z on UA for an old 777 seat.

So UA did get me to pay more money by making SWU's worthless. One problem: so far that money has been largely going to AC and SQ, not UA. What a triumph for UA revenue and loyalty management!