DL gives tippy top elite status at 140 segments. I know this to be true, because I did it this year. Did it suck? Just a lot. But I've been true to myself and avoided UA completely, directing my spend and my flying instead to DL, US, LH, BA, SA, and SW (granted SA and SW are hardly in competition with UA...). This has meant taking some trips with a connection where UA flew a nonstop, but I'm okay with that. Oh. Ew. Just remembered that I do have a round-trip to Chicago over Christmas on UA.

What makes me sad for the UA loyalists (and the ones who are trying to stay loyal) is that UA is creating these 'enhancements' in a bouyant economic climate for the airlines. The carriers are posting record profits, but then instead of actually enhancing anything, really, they're sucking the benefits away - and many of these benefits are of a marginal cost, literally, to the airlines. Not sure I'll ever understand it, but then again here I am in a hotel room, a mere salaryman.

For those who do make the change to a different carrier due to the diminution of the UA upper tier benefits, do let us know how it turns out. As others have posted, if you switch to another carrier and/or alliance, you'll find some new perks (for me, DL's fares can be lower; upgrades happen often for me) and some new annoyances (Hello, SkyMiles? It's me, TravelinWilly. Just wanted to tell ya' you suck. Out loud), but no surprises there. I look forward to the time that UA creates a compelling reason (and dare I use the overused "value proposition?") that makes me (or all of us) want to come back to them. I keep trying to like UA, but they keep telling me that they don't want me to. So I'll obey them until they tell me otherwise.

I grew up on UA, and I always rooted for them. Now, sadly, even with a new CEO, they still keep getting it wrong.

The good news is that they've got a fresh, engaging, and compelling new/used logo and font. So that's great.