I have an idea... Why don't you all earn it by flying the actual miles. I find it sad and discomforting that i'm sitting up in first class with someone who got their elite status by paying a few hunderd dollars or saying at some hotels w/o actually EARNING it. I hope the airlines will move away from this practice and leave the first class seats to the folks who deserve first class seats, the ones who actually pay for them or fly the level of miles/segments to accrue elite status. In fact, I'm glad to see some airlines removing first class seats -- gives the folks who don't fly much less chance to sit up front.