The other up-side to the calendar year issue is that if you start early in the year, and qualify to MVP or MVPG before year end, you move up to that tier for the remainder of the year and the whole next year. So if timing works out right, and you fly often, starting in January, you could be at one of the qualifying tiers by June and have a year and a half at MVP or MVPG after just meeting the requirements for one year of benefits.

As with anything in life, timing is everything!