A relative of mine flies to far-flung destinations every couple of months, but has yet to achieve elite status AFAIK since his choice of airlines is driven primarily by cost-per-trip and therefore varies significantly. I feel for him, having to ride 8-12 hrs on TPAC/TATL flights in coach without even having a shot at bulkhead or exit row.

I'm zealous for my elite status (at least on my primary choice of airlines) and hope to achieve the top tier this year, however it might run into opposition from accounting types if the fare difference shows up on their radar.