Gold vs Platinum
 

I searched for a bit but have direct question:

Gold vs Platinum is it worth the about $1K cost in EQM maximizer. It also looks that based on how easy is to buy EQM that Platinum will be almost as hit and miss as Gold. Any suggestions. Also in your opiniion what are the major differences. I am based in IAH and mostly flying long haul to Eeast or West Coast.

It really depends on your planned flying pattern for next year. If you will be doing a LOT of flying (i.e. enough to get close to Plat again) then I might say it is worth it. But 1k is a lot of money, considering you will not get any extra bonus miles.

Maybe you would be better off using that money to pay for a few upgrades, or to buy B and Y fares that would give you an automatic upgrade.

IMO, travel from IAH to the west of east coast is only about 3 hrs, so I don't think sitting up front is that much of a difference. Hardly considered long haul. (long haul is usually 7-8 hrs plus)

EDIT: Welcome to Flyertalk!

Not by any stretch would many of us consider spending $1,000 to become Platinum if at Gold now. So your assumption above is no good.

Look up threads for "platinum worth" to see what others think.

I'm Platinum this year, and love it. Saved hundreds in change fees for a summer flight to France (kept changing dates/destinations) and have a decent upgrade %, considering all I tend to fly is EWR-SEA/PDX/SFO.

But...I just renewed at Gold, and not going to spend the $1,000 to make Platinum.

It's nice to be Plat, you get a few small perks and better placement on the EUA list. Definitely not worth $1k, unless you do a lot of transcon where your best/only/last hope of upgrades is as a Plat.