One problem with NJDavid's lengthy, well written argument, that I have is that Bethune recognized some problems previously which negatively effected ALL users of OnePass, and so he took steps to put things back for ALL users.

EAU is different. There are clearly at least two distinct groups of users:

Class 1 users would be those users who purchase discounted fares and/or have lower levels of Elite status, and prefer the old dialup system out of self-interest, rightly so, as the dialup system provides them with a better opportunity to get upgrades than does EAU.

Class 2 users are those users who have higher Elite status, demonstrating a propensity to add profitability to CO over the LONG term, as well as users on full fare tickets, demonstrating a propensity to fuel profitability to CO in the SHORT term. These users prefer EAU, because EAU is more equitable for them. And CO prefers to look after the interest of these Class 2 people, because they enhance shareholder value more than do Class 1 people, and the central job of any management team is to increase shareholder value.

People argue from positions of self interest. That's why so much frantic argument about EAU or NO EAU here on these boards. It would be hard to say that in light of the huge amount of discussion, there are not these 2 groups (at least).

And that's why this time Bethune and crew's changes are different: they are designed to remedy what is (at least a perceived) inequity WITHIN the OnePass system, NOT changing, correcting, altering or whatever, OnePass as a WHOLE.

So, to cite back to Bethune's prior strategy as to this, its just apples and oranges when analyzed in this way.

[This message has been edited by thesilb (edited 10-30-2000).]