when you start thinking “nah, I’m not gonna spend $x,xxx tor status” then it’s time to quit

It does not mean your status-chasing days were wasted. It just means your viewpoint changed

Eww.

David

Also could be due to all sorts of other changes: different travel desires and habits, different personal finances, normal/usual age related changes, different lifestyle (new baby, married, divorced, different job).

(Free checked bags for all fares & booking classes AND free extra legroom or exit row or preferred economy seating are still often overlooked and “taken for granted” aspects of (airline) status.)

For a numpty like me, could someone please explain what is meant by 'CLEAR' here? Is it another acronym?

CLEAR (link): a private, profit driven, expedited security screening program in the USA.

I get this completely. When you already have solid status, the motivation to chase more just isn’t there.

With Super Flyers on All Nippon Airways and Star Alliance Gold, plus Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, you’re already well covered. Going for JGC Three Star with Japan Airlines sounds nice, but if you’re not flying oneworld much, the payoff may not justify the effort.

The Hilton Diamond match is tempting, but splitting stays during Marriott’s double elite promos can feel inefficient.

At some point, it’s less about maximizing and more about simplifying. If what you have works, comfort wins.

My advice is that status is only useful when you use it, so if you are not close with planned travel then there is no point.

I have business travel that can be directed to my programs of choice which are AA and Marriott. I also have the cobranded credit cards. I no longer have the travel frequency to get AA EXP but can get to at least platinum which gives me main cabin extra seats at booking which works for me. Marriott lifetime platinum status gives me free breakfast and some room upgrades so that works, if I make titanium great, if not that is ok..

On American, I check where I am about November when there are 4 months left to qualify for status. If I can stretch for the next level, I can put more spend on the CC, visit my brother in CA for a mileage run, or take my family on a weekend getaway with AA hotels. AA hotels bookings have the potential to earn more points per $ than anything else if you have status and the CC.

It has been worth it as we travel every year on points and enjoy the status perks.

I gave up chasing status in 2018 when I stopped flying 30+ weeks a year after 6 years straight. Before then however, I also flew a lot (100K a year) but, normally nowhere nearly as frequently as I did from 2012-2018.

When is it time to stop ? Don't take this answer as anything but my own situation. When you can afford to pay for international J two or three times a year, and the dates/times/routing is what really matters the most. When you do this you lose allegiance to a carrier or an alliance, as you've exchanged money, instead of points for the seat, so, you've paid for the experience, rather than suffered for it, like I did from 2012-2018.

YMMV obviously.

Totally agree, I had a high travel job for 15 years, probably 70% of that time i was QF Platinum, I was lifetime gold i guess early 2000's. I retired in 2014 and now i only travel First and Business for holidays, sporting events etc and no longer care at all about points, status etc.

I'm living in Thailand so the fares are more affordable than some locations but basically something I felt was important (status and its benefits) is now totally irrelevant to how i live. I also have a lot of choice so typically travel EK, QR, LX, CX, SQ, QF. I also see great fares on EY so might give them a go at some stage.

First Class as in actual First Class (Air France, Emirates, JAL etc) or the wider lounge chairs on a 2-hour US domestic hop onboard a 737 ("business class")?

For airlines it's way too expensive to get top or near top elite status now. However, for hotels, it's still possible to get good status easily, sometimes with a credit card (and not necessarily the top end expensive cards). If you can use that status even just one or two nights, it's worth it, esp. if the cc gives you one free night a year.

How do you know when it's time to give up on chasing status?

When you have achieved the highest lifetime status you are likely to obtain.

When the cost of obtaining the next highest level (beyond "normal" or "necessary" travel) is more than the anticipated benefits of that higher status.

In such circumstances, especially the former, perhaps it is time to help one's spouse or partner obtain his or her own (lifetime) status. 💚