You are absolutely correct, I did not see or digest that as I don't fly the way I used to. Made AL+, the BIS way, every year from inception to 2017. Would have it requailfied by August and would use RT's tricks to push points into the following year. Would have been nice to have a lifetime component to that as I still have 1MM+ points and the very occasional travel.

And the cynic in me sees the lowering the bar as watering down the benefits for all eventually. Drinks are nice, at least on the ride home, I used to reluctantly burn my morning BS chits on Bailey's and coffee before work.