FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,796
I hit the same issue as you. I reached 110 EQM's and, following a series of disappointing experiences (and knowledge gained on FT), I switched to AA. AA has elite for life.
I recently discovered that Delta does too: Delta offers Platinum elite for life for those who reach 4 million MQM's (EQM's). I think that's a good idea: few people would reach it. Now, it would take 53 years of earning 75k EQM's a year to reach the goal! So, the program rewards few people--and encourages people to continue flying after they reach 75k EQM's for a year. It seems to me that CO has a reward program; Delta's is also a loyalty program! I'd love to see CO consider introducing this concept into OP.