I managed to renew my ambassador on the 15th of this month and just missed the Diamond extension by 12 hours. I sat on the renewal email for a couple of weeks not thinking there could be a change. So, I am now a fully bird in the hand guy.

All elite/ mile programs are tightening things up like all my hoarded United miles that are now devalued by at least a third. Delta here really showed what can happen. So, lock things in as early as possible for as long as possible.