I too earned E-50k last yr based mostly on short-haul segments... at total of 56 segments on $39k spend. For $39k, I could have flown YYC-PEK-YYC a total of 18x, and earned 98,000 status miles!

And the fact that AC recently switched from CRJ's to Q-400's for most western Jazz routes tells me they are absolutely not as profitable as long-haul.