Originally Posted by
humesd
For a lot of us, MQM have zero value since we'll never revenue fly that much on one airline in one year. And even if we do, we'd have to fly again on it to get the benefit. But for a tiny minority, status is easily worth several thousand.
Another adjustment is that miles are tax free, but pleasure travel has to be paid with after tax money.
Nailed it.
When you buy a ticket, you should be using the pre-tax cost, not after tax cost. Some of us get our miles from credit cards
and use them on intl F so all elite status would mean is getting our first choice of meal should we be so unwise to use it on UA.