igolfchip

I'm only 2800 miles from earning my PLT for 2009. Not that it will cost much $ for a mileage run, but I have to admit it will be hard to sell my wife on taking a $400 trip (inc. hotel) and a day or two away from family just to earn miles and keep my status.

can someone remind me why keeping PLT status makes sense? For what its worth I fly about 80K / year across AA and UA and either company will match the others' status.

Thanks,
CHip

cardigans1

Because even as an adult, you like to be recognized. You like to have status. You don't want to lose that swagger you have walking down the airport.

2TallSeaFlyer

A couple of reasons:

Better ability to use your stickers (upgrades)
Double miles on all flights
Standby priority - meaning you may actually get on the plane.

There's more, but those are my big ones.

AAJetMan

DUHble miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

martin33

where are you based? 2800 miles should not require an overnight trip.

anyway, the extra bonus miles alone would get your wife a free ticket somewhere.

bpauker

Why not ditch UA (or AA) and put all your flying on one carrier. Maybe you could hit top tier on one of them next year.

Blueboys999

Double miles is good but for me having access to One World partner lounges (a benefit that can't be purchased) and the AC on international itineraries is the biggest plus over Gold. YMMV.

igolfchip

Company policies here are pretty strict. UA to Beijing, AA for pretty much rest. I will fly to China 2-5x / year.

Lana537

LOL!! You describe my husband (PLT) to a T! He worships his double miles, and to the OP--one year he spent $2K on mileage runs! Some people golf, some ski, a few really do need their status! It brings DH great happiness, and thus, it brings me great happiness!

Lana

igolfchip

I'm based out of RDU. Have to fly west (Colorado or farther) to do a mileage run that's reasonably affordable (can do SEA for $210 r/t).

swag

After a few years as PLT, I fell to GLD this year, and really didn't care.

It's all about your flying patterns. I don't fly internationally enough to value the lounge access; I have enough redeemable miles that the extra bonus wasn't too important; and on the EXP-heavy routes I fly, my upgrades weren't clearing even as PLT.

One other benefit to being PLT for 2009 is that the unwritten soft landing policy guarantees at least GLD for 2010. If you may not fly enough for GLD next year, that's a consideration.

kremedonut

Have you considered flying RDU-DFW-SAT and back? It's in your price range and can be done without an overnight stay.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

The thing is that once one starts to fly enough miles to gain status (25K typically) they begin to appreciate the benefits versus some one who flys a few times a year. Of course, the higher the status the better the benefits and therefore we are encouraged to fly nowhere for the sake of getting to the next level.

I personally need to sit down and figure out how I am going to fly an additional 14K miles in December to gain EXP. And since December is a busy month for me work wise, the trips need to be same day returns and as cheap as possible.

Most people, like the OP's wife, think that flying only for the sake of gaining status is ridiculous. I have tried to explain it to people and they just give me a confused stare. But while they are in the back of the bus squeezed in a middle seat between two grossly overweight paxs, I am in the front sipping on a Vodka tonic awaiting my complimentary and warm meal (and yes the food is not devine).

igolfchip

Thanks for the suggestion! Saw a fare for only $144 on that itinerary

Question though - will I earn any bonus miles to help me hit the target 2900 miles?

On the AA reservation site it only adds up to 2,616mi

RDU - DFW: 1062
DFW - SAT: 246
SAT - RDU: 1308

miamigrad

Bonus miles are redeemable miles, but do not count toward elite qualification or re-qualification