Originally Posted by pinniped

OK, I'll bite: I'd accept that. You make LT Gold on date X, you have those benefits forever. I forget if I made LTG before the 4PM checkout became a published benefit, but let's say I did. I would find it ethically and practically acceptable to not have that as a guarantee (unless I also made Gold the "normal" way in a given year).

Seems like a clunky thing to implement, but I wouldn't be too angry about it. Perhaps because I'm cynical - I know over time that they water down the programs and take things away a lot more than they add new benefits.

But more than anything, I think it's about honoring the basic pillar of the existing status - the fundamental intent of Gold being the lounge access and/or breakfast. We never expected upgrades as a Gold, and the ebb and flow of how they calculate bonus points by tier over time isn't that material of an issue. Nobody's going to launch a class action lawsuit if they tweak arrival bonuses or bed type guarantee payouts.