The difference between our calculations is that you are calculating for a new FFP traveler who doesn’t have any status and I’m calculating from a maintaining point of view in which a G, P or PL already gets his or hers extra flying points from day one (+10%, +40%, +60% respectively).

In some FFPs there’s a huge difference between getting the status or maintaining it. E. g., to get the highest TK status Elite Plus, someone will need to fly 80K miles in one year. The status is held for 2 years. To maintain the status someone has to fly either 40K miles in the first year of membership or 60K in the 2 years of membership. For someone who is positioned in CAI that can be spent of as low as $2,500 compared to LY P’s $14,000.