Just after I stopped work ('93), my company (a consulting firm with ~3,000 employees) selected United as its preferred airline. As part of this selection, United comped all AVP's to Premier and all VP's to Premier Exec (each level represents roughly 10% of employees)

Actually, I think this was very smart on both my company's and United's part. We have consultants all over the country, each with their own preferred airline; at least nobody could claim they'd lose their bonuses or elite status in their old airline. And while some consultants don't fly very much, United didn't give away very much for them.

I don't know if this was a one-time thing or if it's been repeated as UA's preferred status has continued these several years.