yes, we loose (compared to 97).

But in all fairness to UA, it is less than the 100'000 miles for 98 (if you have only one partner-award-round-trip per year, it is more if you have, as I had, several such partner-award-tickets in one year). You did cumulate the 97-loss - with 98.

We (1K) loose:
*the 40'000 one-time rebate voucher for partner-awards (in comparison to 98)
*the 35'000/45'000 etc. bonus (in comparison with 97), this one was for one year only "replaced" by the above rebate-voucher
*the partner-award-possibilities: per transatlantic 1st-class-rountrip = 40'000 miles (ending april-30-99).

We did win (first time in 98):
*Status miles on StarAlliance-partners (for me starting 99 this means, that I will reach 1K at least twice as fast as before; and by that I will make it Senator as well with LH - without flying more than the years before).