Everybody's perspective on it will be different. For a new 1K like me, the status' luster is shining as bright as ever . Of course it really depends on how your travel patterns are enhanced by the benefits and I'm looking forward to this new year. But so far, although my bulk or exit E+ seats are typically enough to satisfy me (if I really want to fly F then I shop for Qups), being able to secure my upgrades to F even earlier on domestic flights has been very nice. And now that my international trips will be increasing for the upcoming year, knowing I have the capability to secure C seats with SWUs is just exciting! Now try doing that as a 1P or 2P. But the best so far for me is the ability to sponsor upgrades for family and friends. I surprised a very close friend recently to her very first flight on F. Naturally, she enjoyed this rare experience tremendously and I cannot tell you, how nice to be able to share these benefits with people I care about. As far as I'm concerned, the prestige of 1K status remains to be undeniable, and something I'd like to maintain from now on.