I keep waiting for CO to back off like NW and DL have with regards to the relationship between fare paid and EQM accrued. I, too, am a business traveler at the mercy of our corporate American Express Travel team, who must book the lowest fare available... usually a 50% EQM fare... thanks that I get for planning my travel in advance!

Over the past few years, I have absorbed the shift from Gold to Silver. I find myself flying NW more frequently. Even though I more often only earn 50% EQM, at least I upgrade almost always within North America... even as a Silver Elite!

I have quite the dilema though for the upcoming year. I will be "commuting" to London. It is one thing to lose your Gold Status to Silver, but it is another to lose Platinum to Silver! I am going to be spending an awful lot of time aboard to only earn Silver Elite. As I begin my flying to the UK, I find it funny that CO's program actually encourages me to fly their partner airline istead of their own. I am finding that I always earn 100% of EQM aboard Virgin, regardless of fare class. It is a toss up between earning full EQM and having airport club access. Maybe I should just cancel my President's Club membership and join Virgin's club so that I can ensure that I am able to earn my full EQM and wait in comfort!

What is infuriating is that the largest corporations and the small companies do not have this problem so there are relatively only a "few" of us in this bind. Large companies, like a BP, negotiate rates/ EQM directly with CO. Small companies can now use the Business Traveler Manager function to ensure 100% mileage accrual. It's us mid-caps... the heart of American business that get screwed!

I have been CO Elite for the last 6 years, after bailing out of the UA program. For the first time, I am truly considering making a change. Then I think... do I really want to leave the only full service airline that is not in bancruptcy?

As you can tell, this subject is close to me... ugh!!!