Sorry for not being clearer.

I would have flown DL SJC-SLC-PHX in the past (as a DL Gold or Platinum). Now, I'm flying SJC-PHX, because I care less about status, more about my time, and I can get a F class for a reasonable price despite having no status on HP.

Consider the total package!
 

I am a platino with Aeromexico. I'm supposed to be able to get upgrades 3 days before, but it's happened twice that I call 3 or 2 days before my flight to request them and even though there are empty seats in F they don't release them, and the CSR can't manually override the system :( so I have had to either call again the night before or pray that I'll get the upgrade at the check-in counter.

Still, considering their easier flown miles qualification system and little perks like lounge access, baseball tickets and professional tennis tickets. I still fly them most of the time.

Gotta agree with Cordelli.

Elite bonus miles
 

I do enjoy the 100% bonus miles offered to mid-tier elites, but not without regard to price.

If you are going to fly F on a variety of airlines, why not at least collect the odd miles on each? After topping off with Starpoints or Diners Club points, at least you'll have something.

Elite status may be less important given your travel patterns and dollar volume, but the programs themselves still have utility.

My comments below apply only to US carriers.

A month ago I bought a one-way PHL-LAX F ticket, day of departure, for just over $500.

Last night I picked up BWI-OAK in F for $800.

I agree that the benefits of status can be purchased more cheaply than ever before, and that as F seats are more available for purchase they'll also be harder to come by for upgrade -- especially as the trend seems to be fewer premium seats on planes rather than more (whether as a result of US reconfiguring 757s or RJs replacing mainline).

But I also think that if the current benefits of status shrink, airlines will need to find new benefits because status exists for a reason ... to encourage loyalty. Repeat business and product differentiation are especially important in a commodity industry. My prescription allergy medication has a rewards program with increasing rewards for increased use. Airlines will continue to have the same. They'll continue to try to segment out the most profitable customers, and they'll dig deeper to find out what each of us values. Air Canada won a Freddie for tailoring benefits to individual elite member choice. That may be a way forward for elite status.

Also, most of the affordable F fares have been on domestic routes. There are some affordable business class tickets abroad (I can buy business class to Belgrade for $1500...) but perhaps international benefits will become increasingly important? And that'll be to the benefit of programs that offer an international benefit -- currently, in any real sense, only UA and AA and to a lesser extent US.

On UA, even the lowest level Premier (25K/year) gets access to E+ seating and Premier check-in and a 25% mileage bonus. Even for not very frequent flyers, it is well worth it (IMHO) to try to reach this level.

Just had occasion to be seated in Economy Plus on UA as a result of my Star Gold status, so yet another elite benefit. To recap, I have:

priority check-in (important!)
priority baggage (works some of the time but love it when it works)
access to reward seats not available to the "masses" (ie any seat on non-oversold flight) (VERY important)
concierge service to expedite my problems at airports (infrequently used but important when I need it)
almost unlimited upgrades on international flights (have been upgraded on all but 2 flights in last 6 years!)
priority standby (less important with new fare rules where you pay to get on a different flight on most fare classes--read cheap--that I travel on)

I place more value on my elite status than the miles I'm actually receiving.

I do segment runs to keep gold status at CO. In 2003 I posted 75 segments on CO but earned only 43k miles. Most of my flights are at or slightly above the 500 earned mile minimum.

I want the status for upgrades, elite lines, pre-boarding and discounted club membership.

Just last week I had a NW gate agent, after telling me I was the only guy on the first class wait list, pull a guys traveling companion up front completely ignoring me. She, the companion, didn't even have so much as a worldperks presence with NW let alone elite. He was a silver elite already in first. I gleened that from a casual conversation after deplaning.

Since when can a silver upgrade a companion ahead of another elite? :td:

Baggage
 

How is UA with respect to carry-ons for elites. UA used to be very tough. Are they still? How about on other Star Alliance members?

In general, how are you treated on other Star Alliance members? Upgraded?

Shouldn't have happened. I suggest you write to NW to not have to happen again, especially with that GA.

aloha

Is that on Air Canada? I am asking because I am thinking about going away from LH Miles and More, which is introducing some ridiculous changes which make upgrades prohibitively expensive. Does one get a fixed number of upgrades per year on Air Canada or how does it work? Thanks.

I am also interested how you get almost unlimited upgrades on Star Alliance.

I think BB means op upgrades on overbooked flights with other STAR carriers based on his AC STARGold status. AC itself has a very tight upgrading program through SWUs issued to elites at 15K thresholds. US carriers are far more liberal in this regard, most international ones very tight and only for major operational reasons.

While it is true US carriers are offering equivilent benefits by virtue of fare paid, and given that lounge access on domestic flights is not a perk of their elite programs, holding elite status does provide benefits and recognition for those who must fly on low-fare tickets. Even a lot of corporate travellers have had to economize, and thus elite status may be more important than ever.

This is my general opinion, and the reason I posted this thread:

• Eite is good
• It is better to be elite than non-elite
• However, the difference between elite and non-elite is smaller than it has been in the past, due to diminishing elite benefits and the lowering of premium class fares