As noted, the UA changes don't affect how elite status is earned. EQMs are still mileage based. And COS bonuses accelerate that earning for those who buy full Y and J tickets so this is already revenue-based. As for RDMs, after a certain distance, the revenue based system delivers fewer miles than the mileage approach and UA caps the earnings...not to mention ends elite tier and COS bonuses.

So OP's inability to understand what UA -- and DL before it -- has done negates the whole premise of this thread: That those whose companies pay their travel tab in high fares should get the all the personal benefits.

The real benefit to UA of this new scheme is that it will save millions (perhaps just book transfers, but the accountants can use it in the overall quarterlies to show cost savings) by not having to purchase hundreds of millions of miles from MP. It's just another of Smisek's desperate attempts to shave $2 billion off annual expenses and trying to turn a profit.

AC has already gone through such a process in a different fashion, by reducing the miles earned (both EQMs and RDMs) when lower fares are purchased. The US carriers have resisted this approach and adopted the one being discussed. And AC itself realized it had to reintroduce EQM (well, now AQMs) to Tango fares.