The model that glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) take a direct transport route to the apical membrane of epithelial cells has recently been challenged. In this issue, Paladino et al. (p. 1023) and Hua et al. (p. 1035) show that the original view nevertheless holds. This closes a chapter in the winding story of GPI-AP trafficking but opens another phase, as the controversy has stimulated the development of new methodology.