It seems that every year around this time Continental presents an offer to those who did not quite make the elite threshhold. Such individuals will be permitted to attain the next level for cash.

Why should we not assume that Chase also pays such a cash bounty for mutual customer elite level to Continental Airlines (although presumably at an attractive discount)? Such a brief year end campaign can potentially add a few cookies to CAL's bottom line.

Why should we assume that this is not actually a well thought out lucrative deal that will benefit both the card issuer and the airline (not to mention the cardholiding consumer), and that therefore is good for CAL shareholders, to whom the executive offices bear fiduciary responsibility?