NjDavid, said: "But no one will tell me that that isn't a drastic reduction in the benefits I was promised when I earned my elite miles last year."
Well, wrong AGAIN. I will. Perhaps you should study the difference between "can" and "may"; "would" and "could". You really mean, that you won't listen to what anyone says if they say benefits have not been reduced. I point out benefit after benefit that have increased... and your answer is to ignore the facts and say they aren't real. ALL your arguments are based on congecture, NOT FACTS. I challange you to give facts like I have. My facts you ignore
1) Increased time periods for upgrade windows
2) Automation of rules, not a change in rules
3) Keep the headset for a lower rental fee
4) Clearly defined fare basis for int'l upgrades.
5) Plats not subject to 30 day rule
6) Increased bonus miles for booking on line
7) Half price reward trips to select destinations
8) Reward certs now are issued in 2 one way certs to avoid forfetting half if the return doesn't upgrade
9) No more redeposit fee for certs

I HOPE NOW EVERYONE WILL SEE THAT YOU ARE JUST BITTER AND MAD AT CO. YOU KEEP SAYING THERE ARE NO IMPROVEMENTS TO BENEFITS... and that CO promised you certain things. well I just listed 9 recent improvements. I'm willing to wager that everyone on the CO board will agree with at least one of the 9 changes, I listed. AND if they do agree with JUST ONE... then there HAS been a improvement. NOT a "drastic" reduction in benefits. So far the only NEGATIVE FACT that has emerged is that the BF upgrades used to be from "MOST fares" and now it is from less than half the fares. I will admit BOTH positive and negative changes. You are so closed minded you couldn't admit it if the sun came up. I agreed with you above that in PRACTICE silvers and golds in hubs might be getting less upgrades... BUT the rules CLEARLY did not change. I don't care how many silly analogies you make... the facts don't support you. Also, very ironic that you admit above that more upgrades are probably being given out... this completely contradicts your recent posts of EUA causing LESS upgrades to be given out.
I didn't like EUA... I still don't like it. But I'm not going to ignore the positive changes out there because I didn't like EUA.