My friend recieved this today, I quote from company memo.
There have been changes made to the US Airways travel program for 2004. For AFFILIATE employees/retirees, the optional term pass/service charge system is being changed to a service charge only system. The domestic upgrade charge program has also been simplified, requiring a $20 fee regardless of length of travel.
The changes you'll be seeing, effective January 1, 2004, are as follows:
*The Service Charge program will require a payment of $20 for one way coach domestic travel and $40 for one way coach international travel, plus applicable taxes. Employee, spouse, domestic partner, registered guest and parents only may purchase service charge passes. Children and other dependents must have passes purchased for them. Passes may be purchases at ATOs and CTOs.
....end quote. They have also renamed the registered companion program "registered guest" to avoid confusion with a domestic partner.