When evaluating hotel and airline elite status, it’s important to compare the equivalent cash expenditures with the benefits provided by the status. Determining whether you would actually pay for a flight or hotel stay at the advertised price helps assess the true value of redeemed points or upgrades. During several hotel stays with mid-tier elite status, I found that politely asking at the front desk often resulted in a nice room away from the elevator or even a reasonably priced suite upgrade. This was more cost-effective than chasing top-tier elite status.

In terms of air travel, frequent flyer programs today offer weaker status benefits compared to the past. In the early 2000s, upgrades were abundant on domestic flights because first-class seats were rarely sold out. The price gap between coach and first class was significant, making loyalty worthwhile for frequent upgrades. Additionally, I earned substantial miles on cross-country flights due to my elite status. Nowadays, flying coast to coast earns fewer miles than renting a car.

Instead of spending heavily to maintain elite status, I now prefer earning cash back on my credit cards. I use this cash to purchase what I need, such as domestic first-class tickets or international business class tickets. For example, I can find business class flights to Europe for $2,000 and domestic first-class tickets for $400. My credit card provides lounge access or restaurant benefits, allowing me to spend less overall than when I was chasing elite status.