An interesting observation from that USA Today article...

It's only a matter of time before the major airlines respond to a loss of elite fliers, predicts Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition.

They could lower mileage requirements so that more people can keep their status or consider letting members pay a fee to maintain it. They could also completely revamp the existing programs, he says.

"Before the majors figure out what to do, it means that some travelers are going to have less opportunity to upgrade," Mitchell says.

Michael Boult of travel consultants Eclipse Advisors says he doubts employers are going to give their travelers much sympathy, because companies pay for the tickets.

"The rush toward the lowest fares may have casualties," he says.

Given there is a real risk to traveling employees losing their status because of online booking tools or being pushed to discount carriers (the article is the first public discussion of it I have seen outside FT), I find it even more incredulous that CO would continue on a path to exclude existing loyal customers. The more I think about it, the more amazed I am at their thinking.