Spent $3K less to fly AA/BA to BLR in business class for a trip in December. On UA, this would have put me over 200K PQMs for the year.
I could have flown UA/LH out of another station like SFO or ORD and paid much closer to what I paid AA. But for what? Four more RPUs that won't clear and two more GPUs that I cannot use. In the past, I would have done just that, because I valued the benefits. Now, what benefits?
Will likely requal for 1K under PQD, but on long hauls I won't go out of my way to fly 016 ticket or UA metal.
Next summer, if UA tries to gouge me for the privilege of flying ex-COS, I will drive to DEN (from October to May, I fly only ex-COS due to snow) but I will try WN at least once.