AC has steadily brought Elite qualification levels down as earning potential has changed. It used to be 60k miles, then it dropped when they restricted it to air-only miles. With Q-miles it dropped further to its present level.

Now that Q-miles earning potential has broadened, maybe it is time to see if 35 is really too low. That might also return some incentive to put back upgrades on Q/L fares (since there will be fewer AC E's in the pool).

On the other hand, the 35k level does make it attractive, and encourages participation from people who really want to get to * G the fastest way possible. That is worth something to the airline on the bottom line.

* never pretended to turn each member carrier into a clone of each other. However, I think as we start to demand higher levels of reciprocation (particulary people in a potential * Platinum group) the carriers are going to have to do more singing from the same sheet music.