Elite status: a pointless goal?
Aug 31, 2018, 10:12 pm
#106
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 194
Though some people claim it’s useless, I’m 3/3 as a PLT in same day standby the last few weeks. DFW-ATL, DFW-DTW, and DFW-BOS on Friday afternoons. Awesome for those summer Fridays where company policy is that you can leave the office at lunch time but you don’t want to book that 2 PM flight out of fear of something coming up. It’s literally saved me probably ~$700 too as the later flights are always cheaper than the earlier ones on Fridays.
Sep 1, 2018, 4:04 am
#107
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Though some people claim it’s useless, I’m 3/3 as a PLT in same day standby the last few weeks. DFW-ATL, DFW-DTW, and DFW-BOS on Friday afternoons. Awesome for those summer Fridays where company policy is that you can leave the office at lunch time but you don’t want to book that 2 PM flight out of fear of something coming up. It’s literally saved me probably ~$700 too as the later flights are always cheaper than the earlier ones on Fridays.
Last edited by Adelphos; Sep 1, 2018 at 4:15 am
Sep 1, 2018, 5:42 am
#108
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
If status can be built into your flying without much pain, it may be worth it.
On CX and AA, irrops are handled much more efficiently when you are an elite member. BA goes always full socialist when something happens and I never experienced expedite accommodation. Plus all AA elite levels are the same to them (beyond lounge access and certain luggage rules), so maybe a mid tier will be entirely sufficient to cover for the few incidents a year.
On CX and AA, irrops are handled much more efficiently when you are an elite member. BA goes always full socialist when something happens and I never experienced expedite accommodation. Plus all AA elite levels are the same to them (beyond lounge access and certain luggage rules), so maybe a mid tier will be entirely sufficient to cover for the few incidents a year.
Sep 1, 2018, 2:38 pm
#109
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MSY
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA Plat, VS Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,531
I got promoted into a position with less travel. Probably won't even qual for gold. Boy, do I miss soft landings.
Sep 1, 2018, 3:24 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
What makes it better? Not really seeing any major differences. I see AA Gold gets the fee waived while a DL Silver does not (Gold or higher required for fee waiver), but that's about it.
Sep 1, 2018, 5:03 pm
#111
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Free MCE at booking too. That's the most useful perk of being PLT when traveling domestically IMO. Especially since they nixed the GLD 50% discount. That separates PLT from GLD even more. Also that PLT gets priority baggage tags - which makes a difference... once in awhile.
Sep 1, 2018, 5:09 pm
#112
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
- The ability to standby for later flights at the 25,000 mile elite level
The fee waiver you described
Sep 1, 2018, 6:21 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
The whole reason for standby is that there is no confirmed change availability for one to clear into. DL and UA have the same standby policy as AA. If you are talking about same booking class availability on DL, that only applies to same-day confirmed. You don't need original booking class availability to standby for a flight or get cleared off the standby list.
Sep 1, 2018, 8:56 pm
#114
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
Free MCE at booking too. That's the most useful perk of being PLT when traveling domestically IMO. Especially since they nixed the GLD 50% discount. That separates PLT from GLD even more. Also that PLT gets priority baggage tags - which makes a difference... once in awhile.
My advice to anyone is if you're only within a small amount of the next status level on any airline to go ahead and make the jump. Especially if you've already got one of the criteria met.
Sep 2, 2018, 1:19 am
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Many people are taking this way too seriously, when I stopped flying UA was 1K for 5 years, not once did the airline ever contact me on why I stopped flying them.
, I was hoping that AA would contact pax to find out why they decreased/stopped flying AA. For next year my trips between JFK and ZRH will be on DL (they run n/s--AA dosen't
), but if AA doesn't know WHY they won't bring back the JFK-TRANSATLANTIC flts.
Sep 2, 2018, 1:02 pm
#116
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: AA, United, Iberia, US Airways
Posts: 47
OP here. I decided that lowest tier is fine for me for AA since most of my work travel is now in DL/AF-served countries. So I won't try for AA Plat (I have lifetime Gold for million miler - that's"1k," right?). On the other hand, I am going to see if DL Gold (which is equivalent to AA Plat) is worthwhile. The occasional unexpected bumps up to J from PE on DL/AF are delightful and (may I admit?), likely to make me a loyal customer. I just had two J upgrades for no known reason on my most recent Africa trips on DL/AF despite being a lowly Silver. Also, I don't like paying for entrance to the DL/AF lounge at CDG, which is required at Silver level. Yes, it is only $45, but that's annoying and not reimbursable per my organization & fed gov rules.
So, goodness me, I am starting to think that elite status might be a pointful goal, after all....
So, goodness me, I am starting to think that elite status might be a pointful goal, after all....
Sep 2, 2018, 3:42 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,019
I absolutely do as long as you think you'll do a fair bit of travel next year. The jump from Gold to Platinum is pretty significant. Better upgrade priority, MCE seats at booking, lounge access internationally, bonus miles, better treatment and recognition and a lower boarding group number. You're so close that an easy MR will get you there.
Sep 2, 2018, 3:57 pm
#118
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
I was upgraded to JFK, CLT, PHX, and LAX, multiple times. And I have been upgraded between AUS and DFW, just not those peak flights. Some upgrades have surprised me, like AUS-JFK. These were not Sunday morning flights either.
Sep 2, 2018, 4:01 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,019
1K is the highest public status on UA, similar to EXP on AA.
When I was AA Plat, I was upgraded multiple times out of AUS. Definitely not the 7-8am weekday flights to DFW, but for a flight that short, does F even matter?
I was upgraded to JFK, CLT, PHX, and LAX, multiple times. And I have been upgraded between AUS and DFW, just not those peak flights. Some upgrades have surprised me, like AUS-JFK. These were not Sunday morning flights either.
When I was AA Plat, I was upgraded multiple times out of AUS. Definitely not the 7-8am weekday flights to DFW, but for a flight that short, does F even matter?
I was upgraded to JFK, CLT, PHX, and LAX, multiple times. And I have been upgraded between AUS and DFW, just not those peak flights. Some upgrades have surprised me, like AUS-JFK. These were not Sunday morning flights either.
Your in austin —makes a difference.
Sep 2, 2018, 4:26 pm
#120
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
And I actually know someone who's AA Gold (gasp!), and she has been upgraded PHX-DSM on weekdays
She actually has a surprisingly high upgrade percentage.