Frequent flyer miles are a perk and I generally try to look at the whole miles/points business from an "I'm just lucky I got this much" perspective. This makes it easier to swallow when I can't take advantage of a megabonus promo, etc b/c I'm required to use an Amex v. a Visa card for company travel.

However, imo, most of the airlines need to rethink their miles awarding concepts. There are many instances in which higher revenue customers are not getting the highest status/perks - and short segments are one of these.

I don't fly US but can understand the feelings of those who do and tend to fly shorter segments. We short segment flyers do get the short end of the stick on many occasions.

On my current project, I fly a shorter segment almost every week of the year (it's pretty much an even 500 miles each way). My airline of choice (only b/c my previous airline of choice - who does have a segment based way to earn status does not fly directly between my origin and destination) does not offer a segment based alternative to earning status.

Let's take a look at a simple situation (and keep in mind this does not by any means apply to all travelers):

Passenger A: Flies 5 intercontinental trips per year - each earns 15,000 miles per roundtrip. Total miles flown = 75,000. Passenger A pays low, non-refundable coach fares for these flights and flies off peak season. Passenger A has been lucky to catch some nice fares and pays $800 per roundtrip ticket. Total revenue for airline = $4000. For his $4000, he receives top elite status.

Passenger B: Flies 10 cross-country trips per year - each earns 5,000 miles per roundtrip. Total miles flown = 50,000. Passenger B pays low, nonrefundable coach fares as well and averages $500 per roundtrip ticket. Total revenue for airline = $5000. For his $5000, he receives middle elite status. (So he generates $1000 more for the airline and spends twice as many weeks per year on their metal - but isn't given quite as good a thank you from the airline.)

Now, let's take a look at our dear Passenger C: Flies 40 short-segment flights per year. Each earns 1,000 miles per roundtrip. Total miles flown = 40,000. Passenger C also pays low, nonrefundable coach fares and averages $225 per roundtrip ticket. Total revenue for airline = $9,000. For his $9,000, (which let's remember is more than double of Passenger A's revenue and almost 4 times Passenger B's revenue AND let's also remember, he spends 8 times as many weeks on their metal as Passenger A and 4 times as many weeks as Passenger B), he gets lowest elite status - lowest bonus miles, lowest return of FF miles, lowest perks, and, on most flights, little to no chance for the free upgrade to F.

So, yes, US's new policy, imo, is a bad move - and I agree others will probably follow suit - but most of us flying ridiculous amounts of short segments are aware that in many cases we generate more revenue for the airline (and are therefore more valuable customers) but get the lowliest of perks compared to some of our "more elite" brethren.

It's just the way it is, unfortunately. Not the way I woud run an airline's mileage program, but the way it is. The advice in other posts is spot on - just consider each mile you earn, how ever little it is, like winning $2 on the scratch off lottery - it may not be much, but at least it's something.