Originally Posted by DHAST

People have brought up some very good points in this thread...

As far as airline FF programs go, I've gotten FAR more out of elite status than I have a simple FF mile. I've redeemed a few miles for upgrades, but never an actual award. Just out of curiosity, am I the only elite without a FF mileage earning card? With my financial habits, I think that right now the card would actually cost me more than I would get in return. I don't pay my card off every month (my own business that I don't want to discuss here) and between a high APR and an annual fee, I don't see that the few miles I get are worth the real expense my card would cost. If I could charge enough to make it worth my while, I would, but I really don't. I would be surprised if I charged more than $5,000 in a year. I think if I really put my mind to it and was disciplined, I could, but I don't so I don't see that the APR/Fee is worth it.

As far as NW WP goes, it doesn't cost me anything to be a member, and I don't pay much of a premium to stay "loyal" to NW. Between NW, CO, and DL, I don't think I ever pay much more than $50 over the cheapest non-skyteam carrier. It's hard to say what elite status is worth, but the mere fact I can prereserve an exit row seat or bulkhead is definitely worth $50. Nonwithstanding the very real chance at F upgrades as well. I'm fairly particular about my flight times, and even though expedia might say that airline a is cheaper than airline b, by the time I narrow down the times, it actually is rare for it to be signficantly cheaper than my perferred THREE carriers.

As far as hotels go, I am a leisure traveler. I don't stay in hotels very often, and when I do I very rarely pay rack rate for a room. I am completely clueless as to hotel frequent stay programs, don't have a hotel CC (is it better than an airline cc if you goal is to earn free stays? that would be my goal with a hotel cc, I could care less about hotel status, even though I don't know what you get for it). Unless it's a very rare circumstance, I try to pay under $100 for a room. I just don't know how to do that with a top chain and will stay at a travelodge if I have to. Lately, however, I've taken to using hotwire to book my rooms, and I have absolutely no complaints about them. I understand the limitations, but it has not burned me. I just don't see that hotel loyalty programs are worth the premium over using hotwire. As far as hotel preferences go, I just don't need or expect much. When I travel, I'm typically "on the go" and am just looking for a place to sleep as much as most people look at flying as getting from piont a to point b.