Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the effect of the announcement is this:
You now have 24 months to earn an Award;
Your Award, once obtained, is still only valid for one year;
Your Award, if obtained before February 2006, has no seat restrictions but does have black-out dates; and
Your Award, if obtained after February 2006, has no-black out dates but does have seat restrictions.
Hummmm. Now, how exactly do these changes benefit SW's frequent flyers?
Anyone? Anyone?