I have a question for you folks. If the benefits you get as AC SE are so limited that you are willing to forgo them immediately after requalifying by flying another carrier, why do you even bother getting SE in the first place? Why not just fly whatever carrier is cheapest/most convenient/most comfortable/etc. from day 1?

I thought AC give out nice bonuses with high flying, 300K Aero Pesos for 350K AQM, something like that, right?

Something I could consider as well but I'm not there yet.

Don't get me wrong. I did not say that the benefits you get as SE are limited or insufficient but rather that the AC Altitude program does not really have incentives to keep flying/crediting to AC above 100K. For instance, the thresholds eUp credits jump to every 40k (140, 180, ...) instead of every 20k (60, 80, 100). We should not forget that the first threshold gift for SE is at 150k, although that could be viewed as an incentive ;)

And I recall the days when it was credits (certs) for every 10K -- and a free NA flight at 70K. Sigh.

You don't really forego the benefits after 100K, you just have more flexibility. If you continue to fly *A you still have all the SE/*G privilege. I just dropped down from SE this year and it's a been bit like crossing the 100K mark. I do fly AC when it's more convenient or less expensive, but I don't fret about taking EK because I'm worried about not getting enough AQD to get to the next threshold or to hit SE again. I blew all my points before I lost status so I don't miss the IKK, and I an usually make do with the eups I get a MMer 50K. I miss the extra travel, but I've adjusted -- and I just got early recognition as a Premier on Via;). I get early boarding and Lounge access. What more could I ask?

I will be 160 AQM away from the 150k and I don't consider any of these enticing enough to make me fly another mile with AC . . . :D
http://members.shaw.ca/deercroft/set...dgifts2016.jpg

How did AQD change anything though?
In the past when you hit 100K did you stop flying AC?
For me, if you have SE status it pays to fly with AC in case of IRROPS,using e-ups and concierge.

And the only gift at 150K that is left is the 25000 miles.

Does that mean SE sees Aeropeso currency is now traded below par at sub <0.01 per pt? :p:D

Very good point. I will be doing the same next year.

Valid question. It's not only the introduction of the steeper AQD for SE but also the cut to the program. Not so long ago, there were threshold eUP credits at every 20k, including post-100k. For SE it was 12 eUP at every 20k (starting at 20k; now the first 10 eUP are at 60k). It was also 25 eUP at 100k (now 20). At least you had more eUP which meant potentially more upgrades to J.

They don't distinguish whether you are an SE who did 101k miles with 20k AQD, or an SE that did 240k miles with 50k AQD like I did this year. Once you hit the SE qualification, status matching with another alliance and hitting their top-tier program gives you flexibility.

For example, if matching to Delta platinum, you get unlimited North America upgrades 7-days before departure. Not eUpgrade based, not certificate based, but automatic. This alone makes it worth having that status for being able to route conveniently, and not because that's only where AC wants you to route.

AC thinned the SE's this year. No doubt based on the amount of posts of people who didn't make it. So instead of doing the same old benefits as last year, why didn't they reward those that made their new thresholds???

I would like to see more airport benefits for SE's, like next flight out if available or same day no cost changes

So would I. But I bet I paid north of $2k in change fees this year. Somehow i think airlines like that money like a fat kid likes smarties. I would doubt they will ever make it free.

Those were the good ol days.

If they brought that back BUT kept the eup level where they are internationally, I would be OK as a compromise going forward.

This isn't a negotiation. They get to call the shots (until there's a recession)