I am not certain the loss of service, space, etc. can be directly attributed to FF miles. They do offer us the entire can of the non-alcholic beverage of choice. I do however truly believe that your term "hooked" is true in more ways than one. As an AA FF who used to fly Canadian I am having to get used to being a "nobody" on Air Canada. I was used to priority check-in, almost always getting a seat in F and never having to stand in any lines. Now my check in @ YYZ takes over an hour, sometimes longer including customs. I recently returned from KUL in F, upgraded using miles from J on CX.(KUL-HKG-YYZ) Two days later I had the "opportunity" to fly gratis on Continental, EWR-SEA in a coach middle seat (737) non-stop. I think I will stay "hooked" and fly out of my way on AA, just for those perks that I have become so used to and now expect. Perhaps that is why so many of us howl when we hear rumblings that the airline industry is going to begin to provide these perks based upon revenue not miles. I guess I won't be on any of those UAL $499 mileage runs to JFK-BKK anymore.

[This message has been edited by transborder (edited 08-03-2000).]