Do not take it the wrong way, but in actual fact travelling with a handicapped kid on a US carrier is like defacto elite status, no airline really wants the bad publicity of not dealing with cases like this properly. Otherwise, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong whatsoever with elites getting better status. They fly more, they pay more, and they are worth more to the airline, plain and simple. Reminds me of people saying things like, its not fair that there is a higher ratio of toilets for F passengers, or that its unfair that F seating is better or the food is better. You pay more, you get better service thats capitalism.