Interesting to see so many interesting personalities here:-)

To be honest, if you will NOT fly at all, I do not see why you need to get Elite or SuperElite for 2008. For what?

But if you do fly, perhaps even once, there is a chance you may end up exercising the benefit. (it does not necessarily gurrantee you upgraded for the flights of the particular trip, which you may or may not have any plan yet).

This year I will have only spent $3500 out of my own pocket, to make up my SE status, because for any single leg of my 2008 long haul, if I can get upgraded, it will be worth it (Of course, I will have a number of long haul trips in 2008 nad beyond).

In addition, travel (or should I say, hitting the airport and flying to different/alien places) always makes me excited. Although I never really live in those cities as a resident, but simply stop by many times, the sheer idea of hopping on an airplane and after overnight, arriving in another country and city, already makes my heart beat, make me feel I am alive.

Fortunately most of my trips are paid by foreign clients, whatever classes. But over the years of many scenarios, I always have found excuses for myself jumping to another flight, for visiting my brother and his family in Tokyo, or making a detour in Europe enroute to Singapore so I can have a dinner with a friend in London, with the real reason of these particular trips being about mileage runs to maintain my E/SE memberships.

My best moment this year was that for a trip to Germany, when my partner and I flew AC and connected Heathrow. Since it was half paid by the client, we bought economy and also a separate ticket from Heathrow to Berlin, with 2.5 hour connecting time.

Of course, 2.5-hr connection in Heathrow was obiously not working, like in old days. AC check-in at Calgary did not help us following the policy of not checking Lufthansa to Berlin due to the separate ticket, which means we needed to claim luggage in Heathrow and re-check in for the connecting flight.

But we were getting the best help from Calvin, from AC's concierge desk, who greeted us at the gate, made immidiately arrangement of luggage direct transfer and tagging to Berlin on the Lufthansa flight. Then he walked us from the airside and waved us off at the shuttle bus to Terminal 2. Even with his help, we simply minutes away from missing the connecting flights, or should I say that without his help, we would have definitely missed the connecting flights.

I was so impressed for this one-time experience and his dedication.

The story itselfs fascinaeted me so much, as we enhance our understanding of human interractions, communications, and relationships.

Trying to renew my SE status actually has become a secondary goal for the experience.

970 to CDG sounds pretty good. If you spent a couple days drinking wine and eating french pastries I'm sure it would be worth it.

I'd have trouble shelling out 970 for E alone but it is a great perk.

-tcf

I noticed early this past week that I was going to be short 82 miles for Elite.

Instead of doing a mini MR, I paid change fees and added an extra leg to my last flight and voilà Elite again for the tenth year in a row.

Am I the only one who sees not as much value in SSWU and only selects the SWU option?

Since we don't know the OP's travel patterns it's hard to know if it's actually worth $900. If he hits Prestige, there are still certs and other benefits, though no SSWUs. (NAUs and SWUs on NAmerican fares require LATITUDE and once purchased get instant upgrade, so no loss of priority.) MLL membership can be picked up for $400 -- with UA and LH access too -- or $25 each time you buy a T+ fare.

Too little information to be definitive.

It depends on the travel budget of the individual. For some, SSWU's are the only way that they will be sitting in J. Although with J being full on many routes I personally think they should give more of them out as they are becoming harder to use.

Amen!
 

I only ever travel on T+ (only paid flights are on company dime, personal travel is typically reward), so I value the two SSWUs I get!

NO!

Lounge access can be bought for $25 bucks (if you want to punish yourself by going to one of them) through a simple click on-line. Two (2) upgrade certs: don't hold your breath in getting into J as an Elite since SE take priority and, incrediably, full paying J pax have increased dramatically in recent years with, IMO, an increase to follow next year (they take priority over all others).

Look! If you're planning a trip to Japan, et al and wanting to travel in J, maybe, it's a good investment (if you book far enough in advance). Other than that, Elite status is not worth much, thanks to errorplan 'efficiencies'.

I don't think lounge access is worth $970 when you can buy it for $400.

The answer to the questions: what program, and what status ALWAYS depend on what you want to get out of a program and what your travel patterns are.

The greatest value of the SSWU is to the LHR, CDG, and SYD, where the difference in SSWU and SWU fares is usually around $1000. If you are definitely taking a trip to one of those places, then that $$$ should be part of the calculation. If you are willing to take a connection you really do have a decent upgrade chance.

If you are travelling once to Asia, say, in addition to some transcons, then I don't think the $970 is very well spent. You can get U fares to HKG for $2400 and even less to SIN and BKK. And for $970 you could buy up to Latitude from Tango+ on two YYZ-YVR round trips and get your upgrades confirmed in advance.

Frankly, the willingness to spend $970 on a MR where it doesn't even look like you'll be able to leave CDG is inconsistent with the notion that SWU aren't worth very much.

Um, how does that work ? :confused: More SSWUs in circulation = easier to use SSWUs to upgrade into limited number of J seats ? Logic ?

Well, I am currently at just a shade under 75K with 2.5K not posted and probably about another 5K for to be scheduled trips so I will be about 18K short of SE. I am considering spending $2000 for 2 mileage runs to Europe for the required miles. It is a hard decision to stay at 75K or go for SE at 100K but I think the Conceirge is the reason I will probably go for it.

Last year I think I paid about 3K+ in MR in total over the year but the conceirge ^, a couple of upgrades I would not have gotten as E, 3 instant KK and at least 40-50K extra miles probably worth the MR and addtional fares. I also had some tango fares ...

Aside from 2x Europe runs for about $2K, does anyone have other suggestions for the weekends of Dec 7-9 and/or Dec 28-31 for SE?

Only works in Canada and at a MLL. If you're traveling outside of Canada *A lounge access is pretty nice and cannot be purchased. The $25 doesn't get you priority check-in, priority screening (at some airports) or priority baggage (when it works) all of which have some value.

If you travel in busy periods you also have opportunities for op ups and I can usually talk my way into an E+ seat on United. However, again it all comes down to how much you fly and where. All of things aren't worth anything if you don't travel in 2008.

NO.... with flights full upgrades are going to be difficult so to pay $970 to play aerolotto.... No way its worth it.

.................................

Here's my math:
- Lounge access: $400
- 2 SSWU's $400
- 25% more bonus miles than P (@$.02/mile): $175
Financially it comes out prettym uch a wash, so in large measure it comes down to whether going to Paris in December will in your mind be a "fun" experience or simply drudgery.

There are a few other intangible benefits: faster response time on the phone as an E. Ability to use *A lounges, increased likelihood of upgrades going through, slightly increased ods of an op-up some time next year....