That is a term used for only dropping someone one level in the elite program. So, Delta has Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, and Platinum Medallion levels. At one point, if you were Platinum one year and did not fly at all the next, they would only take you down to Gold status. If you still didn't fly the following year you were futher reduced to Silver, and then you lost all status the next year. Currently, they no longer do that. If a Platinum level member does not travel, he or she will be dropped from the elite program entirely - ie. no soft (can only fall one level) landing.