Elite status makes sense, so long as it is not on either DL or HP.

DL's SkyMiles is just plain terrible. Running a business cost-effectively needs to be looked at in terms of whether the firm's product is being watered down so much that it's detrimental to attracting and retaining new customers. In my opinion, DL management are a bunch of cheapskates. They've made their pizza so plain that no one wants a bite of it - that is, if they could even get their hands on one. If I want no-frills, I'll fly WN.

For HP, you might as well put your miles with CO. HP is riddled with customer service/reliability problems. Could be a good airline, but not today.

AA has an infinite gold elite accomodation for those accumulating 1,000M miles, whether by flying or by bonuses/promotions. Might be worth looking at, since the benefit lasts a lifetime, as opposed to only a year.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by ETOPS01 (edited 05-02-2001).]