I'm not staff, but I'd urge these to concentrate their efforts on providing the best service possible to all passengers in all classes. I'm occasionally aware that cabin crew have been alerted to my (not so) exalted status, but really I do not enjoy being singled out for special welcomes.

I am reasonably confident that goldness will come into its own in a modest way when things go wrong, but I'd expect to have to push things along myself as well.

Oh, and I've had the very, very occasional upgrade - which I'll put down to the shiny card.

For me the routine benefits of "status" are seat choice, priority check and security, and the lounge when there are delays and for access to ticketing agents. I'm no misery, but I've no wish to "sink glasses of champagne before take-off" and prefer to board last.

All in all, the status thing represents some privileges I gain through personal and professional circumstances which require that i travel a lot. Nothing more than that.