It won't hurt to call the airline in January to ask. Just coincidentally, I called a major hotel chain earlier today because I will be a few nights short of qualifying for the next elite level by year end, even with 10 nights in December. Note that I have never been a member of the next level. The CSR said to call in January and I would be given the next elite level even though I will be 5 nights short. She also explained I could keep that level by obtaining the full number of nights for the following year. It sounded like a canned response, not something on her own initiative, so I think this hotel chain has made it part of their elite upgrade policy...so I would say call all programs in January that you may be short of qualifying. You never know unless you ask.