Having just found this site today, I'd like to thank all of you for confirming my suspicions.

I joined Onepass back in '91, and made the occasional domestic flight here and there until just a few years ago, when I began a heavier job-related flight schedule to various overseas locations. First, I made silver, then struggled up to gold, then finally platinum last year. I was sad to find I fell short and slipped back to gold for '04 (thought the cutoff was Feb). But I'm not sad anymore. All of you have helped me come to terms with the reality of this program.
I often wondered, as a platinum, why wasn't I able to get an upgrade on some of these brutal NY to HK hauls? Is there a higher elite level getting those that I'm not being told about? etc etc.

Now I'm happier that it wasn't just me. It is the same misery for all of us. :-)

I'll no longer fight my corp travel dept to get booked on this airline. There is little point to the suffering to achieve higher status. It gets you nothing.

I now can abandon my plan to write a letter to Gordon. There is no point.

I've learned much today and I thank you again.