A sign of the times, indeed. UA seems to be doing almost anything it can possibly do to generate cash now, and to hell with the longer-term business consequences. That "$50 per barrel" business plan must be looking a bit shaky now.

I've managed Y to J upgrades on 5 out of 6 flights between SYD and LAX over the past 8 months (and for all but the last one I was only Silver). But then I generally select mid-week flights to increase my chance of an upgrade.

Glenn

I'm more than happy to help them - especially if I can get a better seat at a cheaper price than what QF is offering. I just won't be amassing a stack of FF points in their program - just in case.

My logic entirely. I earn and burn on UA, booking with them when it makes economic sense to do so, and take the super-generous perks, but am building up the big points and status towards Life Status etc in (hopefully vastly more stable) QF prog. Hopefully UA FFs (and AA FFs ?) won't lose millions of miles like Ansett FFs did, but it certainly could happen.

It is pretty hard not to amass points though.

Each trip I make to the east coast gets me about 50,000 points and there are often 2 x type bonuses as well etc.

I have about 700,000 UA miles and never panic about them to be honest. But agree hoarding (in any scheme) is never wise in this devalued world of FF plans.

Just catching up with this excellent topic and riveting discussion.

I'm 2 for 2 on QF (being a Plat helps).They certainly depleted the points stock

QF175 BNE/LAX 26 Dec 05 Y>J x 2 (Mrs QF WP very happy!)
QF026 LAX/BNE 12 Jan 06 Y>J x 2 (serious brownie points here!)

I'm not expecting any more Intl travel in the foreseeable future, so burning on Y>J upgrades (scored two this morning PER/ADL & ADL/BNE).

Like Aisle Seat H, og and others, I'm unhappy with the QF program changes and the lack of benefits. Dave Noble has convinced me that I've go to look at what's really best for me, not QF. 17 years of loyalty and I've become a turncoat and now crediting everything (other than red e-deals) to AA (but burning QFF points on the upgrades). I'll throw the red e-deals to QF as that'll get me to Lifetime Silver by end of 2006. So this'll be my last year as a WP but at least I'll be Lifetime Silver and have Lifetime QC.

OMG, what'll happen to my FT name....

This has got me thinking - if a lot of the dissatisfied are doing this, then I guess QF are not gonna feel the pinch, and can keep the FF prog. stingy... in other words, if all that is happening is that people are moving FF prog but are still flying QF/OW then QF are sitting pretty.

I guess QF NB will just have to give up his name in 3 years then won't he ?!? (You never know, by then he may be a QF WP and you can swap !).