Is it worth putting any effort into US AIR after this week's announcement? What guarantee is there that US AIR will even permit upgrades from any but refundable fares in the new benefits year? Until all the other programs have announced their rules and other details for 2003, it will be hard to make a meaningful decision in this regard.

I can understand the overlaying logic as presented in the US AIR VP's defence of their actions. SouthWest is wrecking havoc to all full service carriers, and they must find a way to equalize the playing field. Not an easy task. Since those fares which match SouthWest's will no longer come with any benefits beyond those matched by that carrier [which do not include elite benefits, upgrades, etc.].

So in this new world of "you get what you pay for", our decisions of which carrier to be loyal to will be made all that more difficult by detemining what are the benefits we prize most.