Just got Sept 11th Mileslink from Randy.
This was in the newsletter, I am sure that USAir accomplished what they started out to do. Increase prices by truly non-refundable fares and stand-by fees. The (IMHO)no miles/no elite credit was a decoy...meant to piss us off enough that when it was recinded we felt good and ignored increases.

SOOOOOOOO how positive of a move is this really?????????

[N E W S A N D A R T I C L E S]
US Airways To Rescind Unpopular Elite Changes
Evidently, US Airways Dividend Miles has heard the public outcry and the
airline plans to announce today (Sept. 6) that it will rescind the highly
unpopular elite-level changes that had recently been implemented.

"Based on feedback from customers, today we have announced two changes to
our policies regarding non-refundable fares," said Ben Baldanza, Senior VP
Marketing, US Airways. "You will be pleased to know that we will continue to
credit all miles earned toward tier status whether on full or restricted
fares."

The retraction comes 11 days after the airline first announced the changes.
In that time, other airlines have duplicated changes made by US Airways to
standby ticket fees and non-refundable policies, but no other airline copied
the elite-level policy changes -- leaving US Airways alone and feeling the
heat.

This is certainly a positive move by US Airways and should help the airline
retain many of its most loyal customers. Clearly the united voice of
thousands of frequent flyers influenced the decision, once again reinforcing
the value and power of frequent flyer programs.

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Exactly as I predicted a few days after the initial anouncement.

Come on Randy, I thought you would be among those who realized what really happened. To me, and most of the regulars at FT US, this chased us away. Rather than trying the carrot (award more miles for full fare), they used the stick (you fly us all the time, but because you don't spend enough $$, we don't want you). Majorly sc&%% *ing someone and then saying you're sorry (just because everyone else didn't go along) isn't a way to get them to like you more.

I flew 8,000 miles this week, over $3k in fares because it was a last minute trip - not a dime to US.

Excellent job, CPRich! I really love it when we travelers express our displeasure via the pocket book. Money talks and B.S. walks. Corporations understand nothing else.