Last year I had about 85K EQMs, so there wasn't much point in my trying to get status on a second carrier. This year I'm at about 50k already (I know, not nearly as many as most of you) but I am also in on the UA AKL deal, and I am flying some routes lately where CO/SkyTeam isn't convenient (DCA and/or DFW to non-SkyTeam hub cities) where flying on other carriers makes more sense. I'm strongly considering pushing for a low elite on a second carrier.

I like CO a lot and I agree that actually using the benefits is a great reason to fly once the tier threshold is reached, but that assumes that 1) CO and partners offer the best routings; and, 2) You can actually take advantage of most of the benefits. I've been fortunate to be flying on routes this year that have been upgraded almost every time (22/25 eligable, and only 3 ineligible CO flights ERJ/TATL, and 5 DL segments, mostly short/shuttle), so I have been very pleased on number 2 above. On my other routes where I've flown a non-SkyTeam carrier I've actually been treated well enough as a non-Elite (bulkhead/exit row seating, free standby), but I can see times where it would've helped more.

If you're not getting upgrades at the rates where you see value in using your CO status, there's a decent chance that another carrier offers similarly decent routings and in such a case having elite on multiple carriers makes a ton of sense.

S.