AKLifetimeFlyer

Yes, I am overall happy that I have MVP Gold Status again after a few years of being a lowly MVP. However, this time there was no feeling of elation after qualifying. To put it bluntly, I did not earn it, it was given to me. I have only 12 segments on AS in 2021, and qualified after my 11th segment in the middle of a day trip to BET. My Gold status actually registered before my return flight, surprisingly, on a round-trip, same-day itinerary. I remember how hard I had to work for Gold when I first qualified, even doing a four-segment mileage run on Christmas Eve several years ago. This year it was just handed to me. Sure, I spent a lot on my AS card doing a remodel of my house, and for some reason AS thought that deserved EQMs. Still, I did not expect Gold this year, but after my ANC-OGG trip in paid First (D fare), the class of service EQM bonus (and I believe status EQM bonus this year?) made it a real possibility.

I will accept the Gold status but do not feel proud about having it with so little effort given. Perhaps my feeling is a microcosm about the current state of things. If I am simply given something, I will be less inclined to want to work for it in the future. Anyone else share my feelings?

anteater

With the extensions and EQM promos it really does feel like everyone is an elite. 🤙🏻

TravelingZoomer

1. �Deserving elite status� is not a thing. Alaska provided a business opportunity and you obliged because you believed that business opportunity to be to your benefit.

2. No one �works� for elite status, and this applies even more so to the ones here, where we are pampered in the air and likely pampered in the terminal at some lounge drinking coffee, booze, and/or pancakes. Even if your job necessitates you to fly, obtaining status is a by product of flying and not a job.

3. Even if you disagree with my assessments, consider it Alaska throwing us a bone by giving them our business we they needed it the most

chrisl137

It may feel like it, but it's not the case - FT gives a kind of skewed view. As an AS 75K I just got upgraded on a couple AA flights at T-48 during peak holiday travel season, and was 2nd on the upgrade list last week on what should be an elite heavy AA transcon route.

And for the OP - airline status isn't an accomplishment, it's a marketing tool. Take the status get what benefits you can from it, but don't feel bad that it took less effort or spend than it has in the past. They did it to encourage you to fly AS more in 2022, preferably choosing them over other airlines. And that's not intended as any slight on AS - I've flown them almost exclusively (and frequently) for the past two years and they've treated me very well and I've not felt like I was at any particular infection risk due to the airline not maintaining safe policies. They're business that's out to make a profit, and they use elite status to encourage customer stickiness. I think AS has done particularly well at that, with fair pricing throughout the pandemic, bringing service back to normal as quickly as they could, and generally providing good value, so it's always felt like a very fair exchange.

jrl767

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKLifetimeFlyer

... I remember how hard I had to work for Gold when I first qualified, even doing a four-segment mileage run on Christmas Eve several years ago. … I will accept the Gold status but do not feel proud about having it with so little effort given. Perhaps my feeling is a microcosm about the current state of things. If I am simply given something, I will be less inclined to want to work for it in the future. Anyone else share my feelings?

you chose to play the game by the rules that AS put in place; the “prize” is status and its attendant benefits … and you’re the only one who can define the value proposition that you apply to the cost/effort/time you put toward achieving them
yes, FTers (and our opinions) aren’t all that representative of the vast majority of the traveling public, and probably only a nominal percentage of Mileage Plan elites

nineworldseries

Nah, I worked my butt off for MVPG this year. There's only one AS flight a day from my home airport, so 27k paid leisure Alaska miles during a pandemic was hard work indeed, especially when I didn't start flying until July.

scubadu

Ummm... ok...

I mean, it's mid tier elite status on one of the smallest major US airlines, that is largely constricted to the west coast. I mean we aren't talking about your career or investment portfolio here. You didn't win the lottery without buying a ticket.

Travel loyalty programs are business marketing programs, intended to benefit the business. Any benefit you obtain from the arrangement is coincidental. Every child is a winner (at some level) in this game.

It's just utterly bizarre to me how personally many on FT take this stuff.

Regards

be_rettSEA

Ok? It honestly felt harder for me this year than prior to the pandemic, despite the EQM bonus and CC spend offers.. Usually I have a handful of work flights and more personal travel to organically get me over the threshold, and I�ve had some, but far less than in years past. Yet, I find the perks to still be worth it, and am sitting in 2A on an LAX-AUS currently with a return tomorrow to hit the (lower) qualification so I don�t have to do runs in the new year to qualify (likely) without the EQM bonus.

Waitlisted

I dunno, I made 100k status with barely Gold mileage made with BIS flights. I normally am either gold or 75k but that’s also been every single year for at least 25 years in a row. Alaska saw this as a way to keep me loyal, and it worked. I took some flights I might not otherwise have taken and for sure will fly a lot next year. My flights are 50/50 business and personal. It was a business decision, and one which all their competitors are also doing.

Eastbay1K

Can't say I've ever been "proud" of any airline or hotel status. I've been very happy to have it, but pride isn't part of the formula. Now, let me not confuse pride with wanting those without to be jealous, as I wave my card, shouting WIA while trampling through gate lice blocking my way to what should be a civilized boarding queue.

The FF game is all transactional. AS made a business decision to attempt to retain our business by giving us extra perks. We made a business decision to continue to fly AS because of these perks. Unless we're living in the 49th and have a lot of intrastate travel, we all have a choice of airline.

Actually, the FF game is worse than transactional in the traditional sense. Just ask this UA MMer and SPG Lifetime Plat. The courts have made it clear that no matter what T&C the company sends, the only one that matters is that the company can eff yew at a second's notice and your recourse is opening a new box of Kleenex to wipe the tears.

No guilt, no pride, no lack of pride, but pleased that I'm 75K until the end of 2022.

davistev

Just for interest regardiung the value of Gold status - My recent FAI-SEA flight had 45 Golds on it according to the flight attendant. I guess a lot of workers going "home" for Xmas.
I never imagined such a route would have that many Golds. I envisioned a routing such as JFK-SEA would see such a thing.

TravelingZoomer

Why? JFK isn�t a major hub for AS, but Alaska is�well alaska.

eponymous_coward

I guess they need a lot of drinks and chocolate bars.

OP- I�m requalfying for MVPG based off of miles flown January-April 2020 plus a modest amount of 2021 flying at 150% EQM and my earned AS status was MVP� which I parlayed into DL Gold Medallion in late 2020 and status matched to MVPG in 2021 (so I flew in 2021 as a Gold). I�ll retain Delta status though 2022. If anyone here has cause to be embarrassed�

Zero regrets at working the promotions. Zero embarrassment. These are sophisticated multibillion dollar corporations with people with advanced degrees and big data to back up and decide what they do, and I�m not breaking any rules. They�re in it for the money and so am I.

thatmikereed

A lot of those folks are FAI-SEA-->Onward, so earning LOTS of miles and making that trip fairly often. Oilfield workers and seasonal fishermen/deck hands going back and forth.

Ilove2fly

Being IAH based, I worked hard to requalify for MVPG. Must be addicted to the chocolate bars. Totally worth the effort.