This is an interesting thread, living in a hub city, as I could reverse this title to "non-Skyteam elites in a Skytime elite hub". About the only reason I'm a NW elite is that I'm in a NW hub city... if I were to move one day to Chicago, LA, NY, etc, I'd try-out the competition, then jump ship. After living decades outside of a hub city, and tolerating layovers all that time, flying non-stop is like Xmas every flight... it changes how you travel. I've gone as far as letting the thought process of hub cities effect moving scenarios... if in a hub city what then, if not in a hub city what then.

Even living in a hub, a flexible schedule, and a little planning ahead, can get you Plat on nothing but direct turn-around flights. Sure, non-hubs and layovers can get cheaper EQM, yet it's still doable.

Steve B.