i dont think that there any soft landings at CO

If you are close by years end (and I mean really close - 500 miles) then an appeal can be made.

Really from CO standpoint, they dont know if you are flying UA or hanging around the house. You might need a few mileage runs to remanin any type of elite. If you drop to silver then at least you get the benefits of the Blue Carpet.

I am trying to figure out what plat means to me now - upgrades are hard to come by on most of my flights. I get a mileage bonus and rewards seats are very marginally easier to get. Wait time on hold is minimal. Other than that...............