OK so interesting observation - the way I view it, because I'm paying for first all the time and not getting the main benefit of upgrades which Diamonds are getting for their loyalty... what I am getting incrementally instead is a call line and a team which in theory will bend over backwards to make my travel experience better. In other words, what you really get is smart agents who care and are given the flexibility to use their common sense rather than the need to always follow the LETTER of the rule. And w.r.t. the difference between United and American's respective GS and CK, well - what Delta is counting on is - you actually have to fly the miles each and every day on American and United... and Delta is just better so there's that!