For me, a top priority are the unpublished benefits of being elite any any level. For example, will they waive the $75 fee, will they waive other fare rules, will they sometimes upgrade me in advance, will they put me up in a hotel due to weather, will they be more responsive to complaints, will they rebook me on other flights even if it was "my fault" I missed the original flight with no add fare collection/service charge, etc. Besides upgrades, this is what really matters to me, and I'd really be appreciative if others could post experiences re such unpublished benefits.

Last year I was CO Gold, this year Plat. On the telephone about 98% of the time, they will not make any special exceptions. Miss your flight? Ok, buy the Y fare you really owe us. Miss your morning flight? Ok, go to the airport and go standby. At the airport I have better luck. I would say about 50% of the time they will waive change fees and fare rules...though it heavily depends on who you get as opposed to any policy. Some agents do whatever you want, and others stick to the rule book as if there life or job depends on it. I have not noticed a difference, from Gold to Platinum, in terms of being more regularly accommodated in these situations. I've also been surprised that the airline clubs (with my Plat and lifetime card) are not less strict. Better luck right at the gate, or sometimes the tkt counter. You must try to scope out the agents, get a feel for the person, watch people......its a bit like gambling. Yes there is some science you can apply, but it all comes down to luck. Another tip: If you need to change a ticket, buy an airline lounge membership, and ask the agent who sells you the mem in person to change your ticket. I had a really cheap ticket on CO, bought a club mem, and asked the agent to change it. I was rebooked in Y on the flights I wanted, regardless of what cheap booking code I was originally in, and no charge or add collect. Years before I also joined the club, and saw the agent the next day at gates. She said my upgrade was not really valid on my cheap ticket, but "as a courtesy" they would honor it and "didn't you join the club yesterday?"

I'm also Gold on DL, but I mainly fly the DL Shuttle. They have weekend tickets for $100 which have very restricted times. I must have bought about 9 of these tickets in the last three months, and on at least 8 of them I have been able to fly at times which the ticket says you cannot fly. These have been same-day changes, but at earlier/later times not meant for discounted travel. E.g. take the 6PM instead of the 8PM (plus get better snack on earlier flight). Only once, in these trips, did they make a comment like "I'm going to waive this for you, but the ticket says we're not supposed too, and I just want you to know that all the agents might not do this." Another time one agent was saying something about the times being wrong and a colleague just told her to book me on whatever flight I want to take. A friend of mine, with no elite status, tried to do the same thing. They told him he must fly the tkt times, they got a supervisor, and the supervisor agreed and they made him wait in the airport for like 4 hours.

Years ago I was Gold on US, again flying the shuttle. A flight attendant told me that if you fly a lot, they really don't care what time you fly regardless of the fare rules.

Again to me this is the interesting part (the fun stuff) of being elite. It's like a game...you have strategy and luck all together with your status, who you are, and the agent you get. Do you see it as a game? Are you a good player? Do you usually win or lose?