I was discussing the limited value of 2MM with some friends and one simply said "sell it".

I'm not intending to sell it when/if I reach 2MM nor do I care to discuss the morality/legality of it.

What are thoughts on value?

Can the value ever really go up? If not, you only stand to lose. That's how I feel.

I truly believe the 2MM plateau is a mistake and needs change as many of us approach it. I also believe in the recent changes that even the 1MM plateau should be changes to E75. Although the 2MM level is just silly marketing. After sitting your but for 2,000,000 lifetime miles all they give you s a gift to give someone E50 for life? Are you kidding? Maybe they should give you two model airlines. Now my wife doesn't need it cause when she flys she flies with me and has status. I also just gve her an Aeroplan ticket. If this could be sold I'd do it.

Interesting question. I'd probably distinguish between core *G benefits and Altitude-specific benefits:

*G benefits:

most benefits such as priority check-in, lounge access, priority boarding etc. can be obtained by having a certain credit card or buying the MLL Club membership (or a similar membership).

So we'd probably be looking at $500-$750 per year. Since I don't expect the *G benefits to change much anytime soon, we can use that figure for the foreseeable future.

Altitude benefits:

If you had asked two years ago, I would have replied the ability to upgrade 1-2 int'l roundtrips if there was space available on the day of departure was quite valuable - worth several thousand dollars per year if you knew what you were doing. With the systemwide introduction of Tango fares, the increasing gap between Tango and Flex fares and the introduction of co-pays this benefit has pretty much disappeared. Sure, there may still be some value for people who buy one Europe Lat flight pass per year and do three YYZ-LHR roundtrips per year, but those are outliers. What's left is the ability to upgrade 3-4 NA one-ways if you're willing to pay a ~100% premium for Flex fares. Most people would probably value each of those upgrades at a few hundred dollars max.

You could also add the value of the miles from earning a 50% miles bonus vs. just a 25%-35% miles bonus etc., but that's not much.

Since I don't expect Altitude benefits to improve and it's more likely we'll see more enhancements in the future, I'd probably value the Altitude benefits at $1k per year for the next 4 years.

So maybe $4000 + $600 x lower of (number of years you expect your friend to be around; number of years you expect AC to be around; number of years the Altitude program will exist)

wouldnt that depend on what age you are?

If you are 60, and get lifetime gold - its clearly less valuable than if you are 40.

I believe that E50K lifetime status is more valuable for an infrequent flyer - so he/she would be exposed to perks like lounge access, priority check-in/boarding, additional (free) pieces of luggage/baggage. The frequent flyer would worry more about upgrades (and co-pays) then the infrequent flyer.

Totally agree. I crossed over 2million last August and couldn't decide what to do with the 'reward'. lifetime E50 was finally given to my 20yr old. I wonder if AC ever thought we would do that????? I would have much preferred something different, perhaps a reinstatement of ikk like it used to be a number of yrs ago. Now that would be worthwhile!

AC also doesn't make any distinction between ACMM and AC2M as far as status is concerned for upgrades etc. Something wrong with that picture. I am not pursuing the 3 million mark. If it happens by default, ok. But now once I reach SE for the year I explore alternatives. Too much erosion of aeroplan and lack of AC flexibility to dedicate all my flying to AC.

Best thing to do is give it to a child, thereby maximizing potential value.

Indeed. Selling it would be tough to get more than a few k given the uncertainty of devaluations of benefits. I'm sure you know some young ins spread across the family for which this would make an awesome lifelong gift.

I agree with this -- the nature of some peoples' lives is that their job does not entail the whole 50K travel (especially with <100% earning) and their personal time doesn't permit canadiancow-like wild abandon of weekend jaunts. However the travel is enough that the perks are worth it. I don't even have time to redeem my miles - I want the status for those perks.

That is an outstanding suggestion. (Now watch them come up with a rule that you can't give it to anyone below legal drinking age because of the lounge benefit.)

You just need to find people willing to go crazy with you

I just got back from Cancun, and now I'm heading to Europe

With different people, but it still works for me

Obviously dependent on age. At 30, I'd probably be willing to pay $10k for it, maybe as high as 15.

I don't think that this is a valid assumption to make.

United and Lufthansa have in the past couple of years cut the baggage benefits. I think the more these airlines cut their programs in the race to the bottom, the more *G sits out there on the limb as the last ripe fruit to pluck on the tree.

It could be that they just all go and raise the requirements for *G to the 75k mark.

Is lifetime E50 a promise of lifetime *G? I don't know. I think they're probably just promising E50. And who knows what E50 will give you in 5 years time?

What if 10 years ago they granted you lifetime Elite status (35k). Today you'd be screwed on the benefits for that. As long as they're just going to grant a tier to you, there is no promise going forward what those benefits will be because they continually redefine the tiers and what they mean.

Today's elite flyer thank you for your business is tomorrow's bottom feeder we don't care about you.

Fair enough, however UA was offering (substanially) more than required per the *G policy which says "one additional free bag where the piece concept applies or an additional 20kg where the weight concept applies".

I'm not aware of any recent changes regarding the baggage allowance on LH.

I indeed expect a few airlines to eliminate perks for *G members which aren't core *G benefits (such as access to preferred seats, additional hand baggage allowance etc.), but I think the core/published *G are fairly "safe".

reality is I would not trust AC and any value of this program. Everything is being cut. So E50 will give you the same as a credit card.
After getting 1MM, unless your stuck in some remote Canadian city, its time to fly another airline.
With the 17" seats in Y on 777 and 787, getting gold is useless, I would not want to sit in those seats.
If you are retired and have "gold for life" you want to find a UA friend who can sell or trade you SWU.
The game has changed, and AC is no longer an option at the table. So PASS