Everyone's perceptions will be different however for business, I generally only fly 1-2 airlines due to corporate arrangments and by choice. As long as the airline looks out for my interest of getting me where I need to go by rebooking or putting me up for the night, I am okay with that and that counts alot more than if you can standby for earlier flight or not get miles on a ticket.

But because I do enjoy elite status (or grown used to it), I use my own dime to purchase discounted tickets or take up a whole weekend doing mileage runs simply to have a back up on another airline with status. I used to have a couple but with the way things are going, I think everyone will begin to focus on simply 1-2 airlines as opposed to trying to become elite on all.

The ridiculous policies that have been instated will not necessarily make us be loyal or not but it will make us decide which airline is our first choice and in many instances, also give us a reason not to fly on other carriers. For example, as much I have loved USAir, I think my relationship with them will be terminating. What was the last straw? Actually I had 3. First was I have never received my requalified Gold elite card for this year although in the computer it shows it. Second was the apparent doing away of System Wide Upgrades and not allowing me to extend the ones I hve expiring last mmonth. System Wide Upgrades earned even at the Silver level differentiated this airline from others but now they have taken that incentive away. Third I suppose it was either the bankruptcy announcement or the no miles for leisure fares.

As for which carrier will I stay with, it will be AA. MRTC and OneWorld are great and after awhile, being Lifetime Gold and 10 years flying with them means something.

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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."