I do virtually no business class travel. The concept I am having trouble with is starting from nothing, then reaching the different status levels (the first year), then maintaining status in subsequent years.

Pick a FF Program, say US Airways

Achieve Silver Status @ 25K miles = 25% status bonus

Achieve Gold Status @ 50K miles = 50% status bonus
Does this mean only 20K additional miles are needed for Gold Status?
(50K – 25K) / 1.25 = 20K

Achieve Platinum Status @ 75 K miles = 75% status bonus
Does this mean only 17 K additional miles are needed for Platinum Status?
(75K – 50K)/1.5 = 17K

Achieve Chairman Status @ 100K miles = 100% status bonus
Does this mean only 14K additional miles are needed for Chairman Status?
(100K - 75K)/1.75 = 14K

Initial path to Chairman Status requires 25K + 20K + 17K + 14K = 76K miles

Maintaining Chairman Status only takes 50K miles plus 100% status bonus?

Is this the basic path to status?

I chose USAirways by default because it is the dominant carrier in the CLT to BOS and CLT to PVD markets. I usually take 2 trips home to see family each year.

Thanks for your input.

John