My are we cynical this afternoon/evening! But you are for the most part right about the decline we will be soon facing in elite level benefits. Particularly in light of AC's just announced exclusion for Elites of upgrades from discount fares. What will Gold have to hold for us in the new regime?

I am presently in a sombre Empress Club in Edmoton awaiting my (upgraded from M-class) flight to YYZ for a long weekend. Best to start using all those upgrade stickers now, and start putting points into the AAdvantage Gold/Platinum Challenge so we have some status at oneworld later in the new year when the changes come down.

I will still fly Cdn to very very end when the last goose is painted over with the maple leaf. Not quite sure what to say to all the staff out here who I've known for almost 20 years from CPAir on up. They've got jobs and know Buzz will fight hard for them, and I guess in the end that's what's more important to me than upgrades from cheap fares. These are people who have put their lives into their work, and I hope AC will treat them less shabily than they are now treating their Elite members, and plan to treat the rest of us after things are rationalized.

Guess I will tender my shares before Christmas and we'll see what our respective elite level renewal packs offer us in 2000.

As the Brits say: put on a stiff upper lip and carry on...flying the great Canadian goose!