Flying Delta as we speak TPA-ATL-TUS rather than TPA-PHX on Southwest, a decision I made while the status bait and switch was the policy. It costs me three hours but my upgrades came through on both legs, because I could actually use the FF program at Delta.

How is what they were doing a policy that has now changed? What were they wanting us to do, fly both airlines separately in a balanced fashion and earn status on each? I think it was just a blunder, the people running this merger have no clue about how these programs interact.