they may *say* that what he's talking about are Silvers. That's a nice way to try to appease the higher-end elites. (and it is true that there is a problem on elite heavy routes getting last minute E+).
United has declared war on their higher end elites as well:
clipping elite bonii for Gold/Plat
eliminating differentiated service for plat/1K
clip promised benefits for MM's.
and the overall clumsiness of SHARES means that elites used to outstanding service and the ability for agents to quickly get them on their way in IRROPs are no longer getting that service.