As I posteds in the referenced thread:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NJDavid:
More fodder for the argument of consistency in airline programs. People see changes very differently.
Personally, if the airlines want to make a change at all, I hope it is a two-tiered approach. Specifically, if they want to extend a courtesy to flyers that didn't make it to their desired level - fine. But also package that with a reward to flyers that really did make it. More SWUs, a higher bonus percentage, something to make those that did fly not pissed about the change. </font>
These are extraordinary times that might call for extraordinary responses, but all things considered, I still feel strongly that programs should be fixed in stone a year in advance to avoid situations that some perceive as a benefit and others do not. This particular change is not so much bait and switch, as it is meant to be a gesture of good faith, but as others have commented, it screws those who do manage to make the threshold. No last minute change is good.