Okay. I know this will go against the grain. They've gone in this direction, I am sure because they've surveyed people/businesses/those who are buying the bulk of the tickets on here.

I know many of you (some do surely, as you like I own the business) don't pay for your own tickets. And they're run through corporate travel programs. The companies you work for pay for them. AC knows this, and so they are catering to the customer, not the flier.

When they were creating corporate rewards they did a survey of the travel buyers in SME's which I participated in (which is why I think they do surveys) and they asked to rank the benefits etc. I obviously put lower costs, rebates, etc ahead of lounge access, upgrades, etc. Sorry I want cheap tickets. I like upgrades I do a sizeable portion of my own flying - and I own the company. I vomit at the idea of buying anyone a J ticket on transpac or trans atlantic.

As for the metal requirement. From a business standpoint its necessary. If you are travelling UA and crediting to AE you are NOT AN AC Customer for that itinerary. They don't make any money from you. Why in gods name would they allow you to make SE flying 10X a year to Singapore on cheap United fares + a 5 stop $650.00 return from halifax to Calgary?

I would also suspect from what I have observed is that: Most of the flying at AC is done by a subset of the population which flys 10-20 times a year. They get nothing, but this customer tends to buy their way into the lounge (either through their credit card or paying when they buy their ticket) and buys the seats by the exit doors. Its an extremely profitable customer... more so than most of us here. (Unless like some here you always fly Paid J...)

Everyone including AC knew that the YQ was a huge bone of contention. You want an incentive to fly AC after 100K? Easy - your miles become worth more. Classic flight award availability is pretty decent, but the YQ is killer. For me and my penny pinching business ways this would be a savings. It would be worth my while to spend 400/500 a year more (and not fly other airlines to Asia and make it all AC to get SE to make my credit card and other miles go further... a lot further.)

Many of you have confused something. With the exception of those who own the company or buy their own tickets, you are not the customer. The business is - and most businesses/managers etc are driven by lower prices. (Perhaps I am alone in my quest for ever higher margins... But I doubt it.)