Originally Posted by
airzim
You also make a nonsensical argument. DL and UA are very clearly converting their programs from a loyalty program to a rewards programs. They can't reward their best customers given their current structures of their programs. For too long they have rewarded loyalty with miles and the associated perks. The side effect is diluted benefits to the customers they want to reward the most. This isn't rocket science.
As a GS, I'm surprised you're so wrong on this - while DL didn't have an uber-tier like UA did (to reward high spenders), UA DID have GS. And as a GS / premium cabin buyer, you DID have differentiated perks (different buckets to get UGs from, early boarding, now M-B service, etc.) & received more RDMs (via COS bonii).
Would have been very easy for UA to just up the RDMs earned from paid cabins (and maybe discount some of the cheapest fares). Instead they blew up the system.