Elite status in general is still incredibly valuable. Free upgrades isn't the only factor.
Status makes what has become a generally inhumane industry much more tolerable. You're almost guaranteed to never get stuck in the middle, you get Sky Priority benefits that make everything a bit quicker, and yes, you can still get upgraded. You can also add better treatment during IRROPS, and vastly superior customer service.
The days of almost everyone getting upgraded all the time are over. Period. You can become a free agent peon with all the carriers, or you can stick with one and still get plenty of benefits. Delta is usually a good deal for me out of DCA, and I don't mind connecting. Especially when it means avoiding the abomination that is UA, and the hellish gate 35X that is USdbaAA. I am willing to fly AA if it significantly cheaper (having OW Sapphire helps), but it is still my second choice by far.
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Mar 9, 2016 at 1:19 pm