This flyer is waiting to hear about next year's program with interest.

I've been consider a swith to Continental (weird, I know, but it may just fit my needs/patterns). But I'm not going to do it until uncertainty is resolve for '04.

As many have posted, this is a new competitive environment. The airlines and hotels are changing benefits because they'd sure like to change certain behaviors.

But as a customer I'll also be realigning my business in this 'new competitive environment' and I'll be giving my revenue to the providers that offer me what in my view is the best value for my money.

I fly on a mix of fares -- some full fare, some discount -- it all depends on:
* whether I'm traveling for business or leisure
* whether the trip comes up last minute, or gets set long in advance
* what benefits are provided for the fare I'm paying (internationally, I'll pay the lowest upgradeable fare -- but don't think for a minute that I'm going to pay full fare just for the chance of a domestic upgrade!)

Who offers me the best schedules, the best service, and the best elite benefits for my particular flying and buying pattern? That's how I figure my business.

So I'm waiting to see what changes CO implements. As it stands now, sans changes, (and as I posted elsewhere on this board) I'm considering CO as my carrier. Changes may make that either more or less likely. We'll see....