They tend to perform up/down to the competition. The Air Canada that operates flying commuter buses within North America is not the same Air Canada as the one that pampers guests flying to China or Japan. These days all the transatlantic carriers seem to be getting worse. British Airways seems to have fallen quite steeply of late, and is the only airline ever to have lost my luggage. For my trip to Nairobi I'm experimenting with Turkish Airlines. I guess I've had good luck with AC in my travel to ICANN meetings, but then my expectations aren't high. Worst things that have happened to me have been non-functioning entertainment systems (for which I've been compensated upon complaining, with discount coupons for future travel that I've never been able to use :-P ). Westjet is OK except that, like their prototype Southwest. they have no other airline partners. That makes them useless for international travel. If they joined an alliance such as oneworld I'd take another look. While I can't speak for Frank's situation, I have had Air Canada status and held Super Elite in 2004. You do get treated a little better and they know you're a good customer... but that status does not excuse anyone from treating the air crew with civility. - Evan