I don't necessarily equate being a frequent flyer with status because I flew an ATA roundtrip weekly for a long time before they ever institued their Elite program. When they finally did, my husband and I were two of the first members. Unfortunately, they pulled out of Midway almost entirely a few months later, so my Elite card is nothing more than a decoration in my wallet (we've switched to SW). For me, knowing the gate agents and knowing certain types of aircraft (737 and 757-300) as well as I know my house are signs that I fly way too much. Also, the fact that I know MDW and MCO just as well. We're basically commuters by air, so if you consider a train commuter to be a frequent train rider, the same could be said of us for flying.