Bikeguy

I think it would be difficult to do as much travelling without status. For example, 100% mileage bonus as Gold makes some trips I couldn't justify turn into something reasonable financially.

Also, access to bulkheads and exit rows make dinner trips to SFO much more reasonable than sitting stacked in the regular rows.

Having flown first and coach, I really don't think there is that much of a difference, if you have status. Give me row 5 with a curtain on a DC9 or 319, and I'll bring my own Granola bar. Or even better, row 16 on a 757-200. About 10 feet of leg room.

To me, the status is about the extra miles and access to the coach elite seats. My wife likes to sit up front, but we both agree it wasn't the big deal we both thought it would be.

civicmon

I like the larger seats but the miles are definately the perk for me. My goal this year was to hit NW gold but this NW 2x EQM promo is only going to put me about 11k from Plat and I already have 2 flights planned before the end of the year...

Psychocadet

I'm HHonors Gold and AA Gold (soon to be Plt) all on leisure/school.

Bogey90

All leisure travel, and I don't fly much domestic, so I don't get many upgrades to FC, but the other perks are still important. Now the question is, will I be able to stay Plat?

otamxuan

100% of my travel is leisure travel. Made AA Plat last year from 2 cheapo trips to NRT and BKK and a couple of transcons. Didn't have time to fly as much this past year so will drop to Gold next year

Also, it seems like I am slowly migrating to UA because it has better BOS-LAX fare and schedule than AA (at least when I needed to go home this year). Hope I'll be able to get status on UA next year.

skye1

Correction: So, decided not to stay at arm's reach of EXP for long. Will be EXP on AA in a couple of weeks, after a weekend MR to SNN. All on leisure travel.

laine

I had elite on AC for a while from leisure trips and traveling to/from school. One perk was lounge access, and there were definitely some looks of "how did someone under 25 get in here?"

Currently have gold on AA from leisure travel and a challenge, the mileage bonus is nice.

SchmutzigMSP

Will be Plat tomorrow

Just finishing up a 26,000 mile run for $260 out of pocket. How's that for "budget"?

I'm still a student, too.

EmailKid

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Guess Viajero Joven's MR Seminars are paying off

EmailKid

skye1

Revision: SNN MR done, changing "will be" to "am" EXP. Posted this past week. Now, to just keep it....

SchmutzigMSP

Very much so. I'd highly recommend you all getting your own MR guru, too.

Now the popular aphorism: I made Plat now...will I be able to keep it?

seoulmanjr

I travel 100% for leisure and I'm a Northwest Platinum (2005 88k EQM), a Korean Air Morning Clam, an Avis Preferred Select, a lowly Hilton Silver, and a Priority Club Gold.

The hotel status isn't from staying in them, but from other promos/comps. I'm an int'l budget traveller, so I usually stay in the $1/night hotel in Dhaka rather than the Hilton. When I travel, I sleep as cheap as possible, eat like the locals do, and get around likewise. I don't do any "pure" mileage runs since I like to stay and experience a place. Life's too short.

I guess that this past year I've dropped about $6k in airfare, which is a pretty huge part of my budget. But in 2005 I've gotten to travel to Houston about 10 times (fiancee is there), Peru, Korea, Japan, Spain, Hawaii twice, Canada twice, L.A., Maine twice, and a few other shorter trips. And that pales in comparison to last year when I was probably making 20% less. On the other hand, I don't have cable at home and I watch a 15" TV. I like to spend my money entertaining myself in places other than my sofa. Luckily I have an employer that lets me get away with about 2 months paid vacation a year since I can flex a lot of my billable hours, so I'm taking advantage of that while I can to travel like mad.

peace,
~Ben~

mgmsteven

Mrs. MGMSTEVEN and I are both 1K on United. All on our own dime. Usually a trip or two per year to Asia, a trip or two to SA, and a trip or two to Europe. We usually use the miles to upgrade or for award tickets for our children. As *Gold we get free lounge access on international flights. Talk about budget - a nice place to crash for a few hours always with free beverages, snacks, and often with real food and internet access. The lounge access alone is enough incentive to keep flying and buying United.

Sunnyhere

I'm a UA 1K on strictly leisure travel, FWIW.

chewy3

I'm a UA Premier on purely leisure fares - also just started college.