Bingo. I'm sorry, but I don't particularly enjoy being treated like a hobo begging for change just because I'm not Triple Ultra Platinum Status in a program. This is the way that CO, DL, UA, and some other programs tend to operate. Worse than that is the fact that their service operates on the same principles. You pay $500-$800 for a coach seat somewhere overseas and they treat you like a vagrant for whom they're doing a favor just because you didn't shell out $2500 to sit up front.

This problem - with both their service and their FF programs - is the best argument as to why the legacy carriers are struggling. Yes, you get fantastic service if you're 1K or Premier or whatever and are buying 1st Class tickets. Those folks are always kept happy, as they should be. But they honestly turn around and treat their other customers like a burden. That's how OnePass operates, and surely they're not the only guilty ones. LCCs, on the other hand, don't do anything to treat FFs better than the other passengers - which stinks if you're a "Premier 1K" person but much nicer if you're not.