Is this targeted at HVC DMs/PMs? The idea that there were only two upper tier elites on this flight and seats flew empty is hard to fathom. Though the article mentions a DM on a T fare.
And restricting this to DM/PMs only avoids a 100-person UG list - When did a GM or FO who wasn't on a Y fare ever land a transcend UG?
I could understand a change like this if DL restricted the UG list to those on a K+ fare. That would make the most business sense. YBM requirement would be a drag.