I'm considering doing the $15k spend challenge that starts today to maintain Gold (which I reached pre-COVID but have never used). Obviously, I get the free checked bag and better boarding status with the Aviator card, but how much do people value the ability to sit in the preferred seats or the priority check-in, especially for those not road warriors? Seems AA makes more and more seats "preferred" except for the back third of the plane. Now that I read that same-day standby is available to everyone, it is making me rethink going for it.

I'd love to board earlier because it seems half the plane boards before Zone 5 (at least the routes I fly for business) but that's not as much a deal breaker anymore because of COVID.