It is reported on the Amex forum that CX is extending their diamond offer to Cents (no idea about gold to Plats) for another year. No doubt this Altittude story had a lot to do with it. It was a bit impossible to get the required 60k miles by March to maintain Diamond. But with the one year extension I can keep my AC flights, burn eUPs, get SE to Feb 2017 and switch to CX to taste life of One world (after a long absence due to CP's demise).

I still have a connection issue from YOW but will see how it plays out.