Agreed. With the fairly steep AQD requirement for SE, I was expecting to see a little something more. So yeah, I'm a bit disappointed to see no changes to encourage pax to fly/credit to AC above 100k. It would have been nice to have something such as Threshold eUpgrade credits at 120k. There is nothing between 100k and 140k...

Yup....was hoping for a little something

The eUp promos are great for domestic travel but when you save up for int'l eUps with no promotions at all...disappointing

Exactly. Most of my travel is also international and never any eUp promos.
We can always hope for some minor "adjustments" down the road :D

There were a couple of posts upthread about now that AC has 'culled the herd' they were positive that things would look brighter for SE with actual new benefits. Not happening. At least not just yet.

As I said a couple of months ago:
The purpose of the culling exercise was to save money. The people who have requalified have thereby shown that they were willing to meet the new criteria (or at least couldn't help it). So why would AC spend money on them when it clearly doesn't need to?

We all know that is very short-sighted on AC's part.

This year a lot of people had to work (manipulate) things to hit or requalify for SE. Those that did change their habits, likely became more profitable for AC. Those that didn't need to change their habits to requalify are like also top-dollar clients for AC.

Because of the perception and because of the additional 'work' it would have made sense for AC to add some type of benefit for 2017. Maybe something as small as free wifi on flights that offer wifi, or possibly premium pickles in a separate premium pickle area in the MLLs.

This is my first year as a SE and I had to really work it to get there....so much so that it will likely be my last. If they gave a few extra incentives, then maybe I would do my best to hit it again next year. Right now, the only huge benefits I see are the IKK which I can't take advantage of this year because my wife is pregnant and I will only travel for work, a few more eUps, a few more bumps into J (maybe) and maybe an AC employee recognizes me as a SE (doubtful).

75k here I come.

Same here. In the short term AC made more from me but in the long term they will likely lose half my business. I only hit my AQD in December and I'm not willing to cut it that close again. I'm currently doing a Status Challenge on DL - I'll qualify for Gold and maybe Plat if I push it. My current plans for next year are to aim for 50K on AC and Gold on DL. Both should be easily achievable and no end of year stress.

I have no animosity towards AC - they have every right to structure the program the way they want, I'm just not sure it works for me anymore.

FYI - I will finish the year with approx 115 AQS and $22.5 AQD. I also have almost 20 MQS on DL this year. In the past I would have been 99% on *A. This year there was no reason to stay loyal to *A for my flights within the US.

I will be downgraded to E75 , which was easy to get , i achieved that in may or june. Did not quite make it to SE ( $1500 short ) and will NOT do an AQD run , i gave them enough $ and i have a trip to Europe right after XMAS with aeroplan anyway .

So , i rethought it all , and they will also loose half my business . My new strategy is to reach E75 next year , plus gold on AFKL . It will be very do-able and stress free, like you say ! :)

It's too bad , i remained loyal so far , but they kept on changing the rules year after year , and since i can't reach SE, why bother go further once i reach E75.

I posted this in another thread, but you can get almost free, or at least much cheaper wifi, by getting your company to be an iPass user. I pay $9/month USD for wifi, and that is unlimited use on AC flights. That is one heck of a savings when one flight can be $15-20.

With an expected drop (maybe even material in quantum) in the number of SE, I was hoping and expecting an improved SE program. Status quo feels underwhelming.

I know the US carriers also have the aquired doller thing although I fly one world a lot and have not noticed it. But they should , in a dream world; let the amount extra carry over or give some form of credit. It sucks when you are 10k over the amount required.

Agree with what everyone has posted above. Leaving the benefits the same for SE while keeping the AQD at more than double is terrible. The "new and improved" (sic) Concierge program is the only additional benefit as 1KK is not a true benefit as it used to be. Is SE still worth it?

A few more e-ups or other recognition would have been great. Like others feel...underwhelmed

^

I will qualify as SE again but made sure to spend exactly $20,033.55 with AC. The rest of my travel budget apprx. $50,000.00 I spent on all the others.
Try it next year. No Stress and it feels marvellous to repay AC's kindness of how they treat us SE's and the rest of the top tier customers:p
Happy holidays:D

Makes total sense. I gave AC the benefit of the doubt this year. Almost all my travel (well over the AQD and 100K AQM) still went to AC. But since there is no incentive to continue to fly AC beyond AQD and 100K AQM, as soon as I hit AQD+100K on AC, I will seriously consider flying/crediting another airline/alliance where I will also earn status. I gain status with another airline/alliance. AC loses business. But I'm just a drop in the bucket.