With US it's more like a time bomb...most people can guess whether or not their activity patterns give them a realistic chance for requalification under the new rules. Not only that, but how many times have we seen December roll around and people ask about a good mileage run on X airline to get them enough miles to put them over the top? Want to try that on your own dime in 2003 with the USAir fare restrictions?

It's bad business for US, especially as it gives people information to decide whether to stop flying them NOW. They run off the low-revs and medium-revs (even if they rescind the move I'd be too suspicious of management or worried about the airline's future). Meanwhile, they have nothing new that'd attract new customers to replace those. Is that really what you want to do in bankruptcy?

Maybe they could learn from CO, which had a disastrous management housecleaning in 1994, slashed OnePass benefits and launched "Lite," probably the closest any major airline has come in trying to imitate WN (FC seats taken out, drinks served from 2-liter bottles, etc.). It lasted about a year, after which they had another housecleaning and realized that they had to get all the FFers (not just high-revs) back.


[This message has been edited by RustyC (edited 08-30-2002).]