Originally Posted by
JimInOhio
The origin of this confusion is quite simple: “earned status in applicable program year” is a phrase that doesn’t naturally suggest any connection to lifetime status. That there’s been one lengthy paragraph after another explaining how it can be the same thing only demonstrates what a poor phrase it was to use.
That and the fact that I believe that UA has "gifted" me my LT status. Since I no longer fly on them enough to earn 1K organically, I'm certainly not earning it anymore. I go wherever the grass is temporarily greener for premium cabins. The only buying criteria for me these days are price and a short total transit time.