Originally Posted by Wozza2404

Isn't this the point of airline status, though? Just because you attain something for one year, doesn't entitle you to it again the following year if you haven't met the retention criteria.

Hit 8k+ TPs with the bulk on BA metal and you may well find yourself on the path to a 98 CIV and the C gate transfers, etc. that (sometimes) come with it. But if your travel drops off the following year you WILL drop back to 97 (assuming you keep GGL). I assume this is what happened to the chap in the story above.