How much did elite status cost you?
Nov 26, 2011, 4:52 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,621
Who Knows
I know most frequent flyers travel for business so elite status is a secondary concern, but how much, roughly, do you think you spent in travel this year and what elite status did that get you?
I fly on my own dime, and I figure last year I spent about $4500 to get platinum, which I figure was really good. This year I have spent close to $3000 and am only a little past silver right now.
I fly on my own dime, and I figure last year I spent about $4500 to get platinum, which I figure was really good. This year I have spent close to $3000 and am only a little past silver right now.
Nov 26, 2011, 5:27 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC + LAX + SEA
Programs: DL/UA/AA/BA
Posts: 588
Like last year, I've spent just over $60,000 on tickets and change fees (lots of 'em) in the course of business and have now mangled metal Diamond tags. Yet for all the money I'd be willing to spend DL three weeks ago wouldn't let me make a change on a Biz award ticket when AZ had a long delay, so I was stuck in Rome for 8 hours and lost a day. The status matters until you try using the miles. DL/NW used to treat you the same on miles as revenue tickets, but that day is done. The domestic upgrades are nice, but these miles are dangerous to use. As we're in a DL hub city, we've started buying those deep-discount *A biz tickets when we need a vacation, and I'd recommend you do the same.
Nov 26, 2011, 7:40 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Nov 26, 2011, 8:49 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
Programs: AA, DL Platinum, AS, AF/KL, UA, VS, HA, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,788
I originally got FO for about $0.016 cpm, or about $414. No AMEX or double/triple MQM promotions. Here's how it happened:
As a general member I flew for $320 on a 5k mqm transcon itinerary and on the return home got bumped off of two flights which netted me $800 in vouchers. Then flew one-way 2.6k mqms transcon itinerary for about $130 taken off the voucher. Then I flew LAX-SYD r/t with that incredible $588 deal they had and earned just under 15k mqms, again taken off the voucher. Then a MR for $270 which earned me 6k mqms, of only 2.5k i needed to be FO. I only needed $188 of my own money for that last MR.
As a general member I flew for $320 on a 5k mqm transcon itinerary and on the return home got bumped off of two flights which netted me $800 in vouchers. Then flew one-way 2.6k mqms transcon itinerary for about $130 taken off the voucher. Then I flew LAX-SYD r/t with that incredible $588 deal they had and earned just under 15k mqms, again taken off the voucher. Then a MR for $270 which earned me 6k mqms, of only 2.5k i needed to be FO. I only needed $188 of my own money for that last MR.
Nov 28, 2011, 4:50 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / JFK
Programs: Variety of rectangular cards with my name on it
Posts: 665
I started this year to gain status and I fly primarily out of pocket (all leisure really). I will be Platinum by end of year with roughly 82 to 83k MQM. I had spent about 5,000 all in all.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:19 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MHT, CHS
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 1,248
After reading the posts of 5 - 8 grand to reach Pltm, as a segment flier I feel I have been raped.
$32,000.00 for 140 segments and 98,250 MQMs. I will finish out the year at about $40,000.00 in total spend with DL. These fares are paid by my clients and usually H,K,Q fares, with a few M,P, B and a couple L,U fare mixed in.
$32,000.00 for 140 segments and 98,250 MQMs. I will finish out the year at about $40,000.00 in total spend with DL. These fares are paid by my clients and usually H,K,Q fares, with a few M,P, B and a couple L,U fare mixed in.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:47 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, Hyatt
Posts: 215
That's why I have pretty much stopped using the miles for my own travel. I have blown about 200K miles this year flying my kids back and forth on award tix. If they get stuck somewhere, they don't complain, because it was a "free" ticket from Dad.
Nov 28, 2011, 7:02 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: delta plat, hilton gold, marriott silver
Posts: 171
Plat this year again, help from AmEx bonus. Husband now also Plat, lots of vacation trips, trip to china in M to use SWUs, probably about $11-12K for both of us. No rollover to speak of.
Miles are used ONLY to fly our kids to meet us on vacation or home for holidays. Rarely find anything at low level, usually at high levels.
Biggest change we have noticed in the last 2 years is that our upgrades have fallen way below 50%, despite higher status. Delta status is not worth much anymore. Too bad.
Miles are used ONLY to fly our kids to meet us on vacation or home for holidays. Rarely find anything at low level, usually at high levels.
Biggest change we have noticed in the last 2 years is that our upgrades have fallen way below 50%, despite higher status. Delta status is not worth much anymore. Too bad.
