Problem, Premex, is that there are too many elites. There are plenty of people who charge all their business and other expenses to their CC and do relatively little travelling and these people clutter up the lounges and the front of the plane. This makes it harder for the true "road warriors" to get upgrades and that extra special service that the $$ they spend on actually flying entitle them too.

As far as economy class and non status travelers getting short shrift, I couldn't agree more. If you change to a revenue based model many of the people who are now elites because of carefully crafted and low priced mileage runs, and clickrewards, and dinning programs and hotels stays, etc ad nausem would likely not be elites but stuck in coach with the rest of the sardines. They would also raise holy hell and I am pretty sure that service would improve drastically.

In other words it is a win-win situation as the elites who spend more on airline travel get better perks, service, and easier access to the perks with fewer people qualifying for elite status (how many 1K are there now, some 50K? ) and the sardines in economy get a better all around experience because the people with clout (i.e. corporate travelers, especially the huge numbers who can no longer get in to the elite group based on the revenue model will insist on better service and cabin).

It is also solves the problem of trying to choose a CC, a car rental, a hotel, or a restaurant based on its partnership with your FF. program.

Of course it will never happen so all you guys who are just squeezing in to elite status every year needn't worry