Originally Posted by scubadu

Hang on... in your first post you said,

When someone in these forums uses the term "diluted" they usually mean they are concerned that there is a finite portion of benefits to go around (e.g. upgrades, etc.). If someone who purchases CK outright flies as much as any other CK, as you assert, then why would they need to buy it, they'd have earned it, correct?

So, if you are concerned about "dilution" of CK benefits for those of you who are flying your assess off to earn it, who is more likely to compete with you for said benefits; someone who outright purchases status, with the intent to use it or someone who in your own words only "takes a handful of trips per year?" Your answer to that question says a great deal regarding what this is really about (i.e. dilution of benefits vs. ego)

The unfortunate/uncomfortable reality is that the customer who "spends a bunch of money on a few AA sponsored CCs on non-flight related expenditures" is probably more profitable to AA than the customer who "flies their asses off." This is a new reality that many of us at the lower tier levels have been facing and now it looks like CKs may also get a taste of this new reality (that said, I suspect this new "method to CK" will ultimately be quite limited and likely not repeated, the Simply Miles/Charity situation will likely not occur again)

I don't have a dog in this hunt and I'm not trying to be adversarial, but I do have a sensitivity to slippery logic and frankly someone that doesn't fly much is very unlikely to dilute anyone's benefits.

Regards