Is it a strange commentary that we buy domains on speculation in the hopes that what we might use them for makes sense. Rather than figure out if the idea makes sense we just buy the domain names, just in case. I'm guilty of it too. I bought ~10 when I quit my job in December and started my own thing, well before I figured out if it is financially viable or not. Actually I still havent' figured that part out, but at least I'm my own boss, for better or worse.

Wow - that sounds like a pretty good deal! Unfortunately, I do not travel nearly as much as you do. My OnePass account is well into the 6 digits, but if I redeem miles and miss out on EQM earning opportunities, I may not make Platinum that year. It's a tough call, but like I said, I at least get to use miles for upgrades here and there.

There are no kolaches on CO :D

There are if you stop at the kolache store on the way to the airport and do the FCTSTY bring your own victuals on board thing. :cool:

I use my Hilton/Marriott/Starwood points pretty regularly.... but I'm pretty stingy with my CO miles. While I usually use them to bring the BF along with me on corporate trips, I also use them for upgrades when I want to be sure he's sitting beside me. That said, I don't use many miles if I dip below the 500K mark. That's my low-water point for miles - cuz you just never know when you'll need 'em :)

I've only recently managed to grow my CO balance to 500K, and I haven't redeemed anything for a bit over a year now. Gotta stockpile for the Honeymoon next year.

I used to use my SPG points whenever, but started hoarding in anticipation of the Honeymoon early last year. *point balance broke the 200K barrier a few weeks ago for the first time. It's good to know that I can get at least 10 nights in a suite in a Cat 4 property. I'm hoping that SPG will have the single-use 50% off award again next year as a Plat benefit, so I can stretch the points even farther. The 50% off award doesn't apply to suites, but hopefully the Plat Upgrade would come through, regardless.

I used 25K *Wood points for PVR through the 50% deal, and it scared me how fast I replenished those points... it doesn't take much since I stay at the same Westin every week. The Starwood Amex helps too :)

Next weekend I'm cashing in some Hilton points for two nights at the trendy Trafalgar Hilton in London. That was a big chunk of points, but it is a great hotel. Sadly, I'll be there alone this time :(

Best Benefit of Status?
 

What's the best benefit you get from having status on CO or another airline? I was thinking about this the other day, and the upgrades are nice (and I still get them a fair amount), but I've started to realize that the waiver of fees is way more valuable to me. I'm not getting the upgrades on the BF flights anyways, so the big ticket upgrades still cost money, but being able to move my reward reservations around to suit my needs has saved me many hundreds of dollars over the past few years.

Where do you get the most value out of your elite status?

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For me my elite status is great for complimentary domestic upgrades and increased award availability. I also like having fees waived in certain cases, and of course having access to elite security lines is nice too.

As I am doing this for a "for fun" thing as opposed to a "need for work" thing, I see the benefit in the RDM bonus. I go to places where I am not all that interested in going (Flint MI) to get the RDMs to go to the places I want to go to (JNB) and to go in style (J/C).

I echo Colpuck, except that when I got to places like Flint, it's not for the miles. The always present "big" reward trip to places like here dull the pain on the 1 day turn-arounds to FRA, ABQ, and AVP.

That and I don't conveniently fit into coach, being 6'3" and (just under) 200 lbs. So, any upgrade I get is a god-send. And access to exit row seats is a necessity. I've been known to take less convenient times or airlines like B6, if I'm staring down the barrel of 26E for more than an hour with no hopes of the cheesy-soup end.

When I divorced US I really considered going to UA for E+. But UA hates NY and I hate the ICC. But it was tough... really, really tough. (and if CO keeps throwing Y only fares on the routes I travel, this little relationship isn't fixin to last too long. I'm really learning to hate Amtrak.)

Edited to add: I almost forgot the best part of being elite on CO - access to the ultra-exclusive Elite Access security lines at EWR.

With CO it has to be the EUAs, which I was having a decent % with, until this year.

For BD, it's the ability to earn up to 625% RDM on Q-UP fares, then turn around and redeem a cash+mi reward at an extremely favorable rate. I will certainly shed a few tears after the Luftwaffe gets done dismantling Diamond Club.

With 4L (Air Astana) - It's all about the luggage tags :D

For me it's the occasional upgrade, extra bag, and 48-hour Y fare guarantee.

I had been planning these for a while and finally committed to buying them (big step for me). I've bought some in the past that were complete speculation and oddly enough, most of them are still sitting around gathering dust.

This year, it has definitely been the upgrades (both for myself and occasionally a companion). I suppose the discounted PClub membership doesn't hurt either.