Originally Posted by superangrypenguin

True. I have promised a certain AC employee I wouldn't reveal how you and I got status via this method. I think it's safe to say that we are an exception, and so perhaps that's doubly why I was and am super appreciative given my own experiences. Your comment about the lack of a public challenge program is true but I'd say your comment about the corporate contract and government grip is a bit too far.

I think Altitude 2015 demonstrated how much AC believes that if you want to fly up front, pay to be up front, even if it is to the detriment to all of us on here. I'm surprised they status matched you at all to be honest. The program wasn't as bad for me in my day when I status matched. I would have thought that they would deny you the match (honestly!)

If you really think about it, it's only very recently that AC has sold off some of its more useful benefits (priority boarding for one) to a CC company. And even then, it's hard to get those cards! (Infinite Priv) It's not quite the same in the US!