You have every right to be disappointed that TWA is raising its mileage requirement. However, you should make note of a few things:

1. According to the information sent me, the "old" miles (yours) will be redeemed at the old levels (20,000 miles) through April 30, 1999. That gives you a year to claim the award, and probably another year to use the ticket. Surely there is someplace you'd like to go in the next two years.

2. Possibly there is another airline that would be a better choice for you, but mileage accumulation by credit card is an excellent bargain. Consider: You say you're paying $25 a year for your credit card. The "street value" of miles (that's the more or less pro forma dollar value that's attached to them) is about $20 a thousand. So if you charge $1500 a year, you're ahead of the curve. Naturally, the miles actually have no value until you use them, which is why those who charge heavily on affinity credit cards do quite well.

3. Perhaps there is another airline that makes nonstop trips from where you are to where you want to go, but you should understand that intermediate stops and plane changes are very much a routine part of flying these days. Ever since the airlines instituted their hub and spoke systems years ago, frequent travelers simply take stops and changes as part of what you must do to get to where you're going. Nonstops are a bonus and they're great if you can get them, but it's not fair to blame an airline for its route structure. It's still faster than the bus!