Rethinking Loyalty: Why Airline Elite Status No Longer Matters to Me

These days, I see airline elite status as a “nice to have” rather than something essential.

Sure, I like having my American Airlines Pro Platinum status, and earlier this year, I took advantage of lounge access and upgraded seat selection benefits when I had Delta Platinum Medallion and British Airways Gold status. But I can survive without these perks.

Truthfully, I feel like putting in the work required to achieve elite status just isn’t worth it anymore. Here are 3 reasons why I’m no longer worried about obtaining airline elite status.

1. I Rarely Get Free Upgrades

I live in South Florida, where one of my local airports is Miami International Airport (MIA), a primary hub for American Airlines. Since I travel with the airline several times a year, I usually spend just enough on my American credit card to obtain status with American Airlines.

I earn just enough Loyalty Points through credit card spending each year to achieve AAdvantage Gold status, which comes with valuable perks like complimentary Preferred seats, 1 free checked bag, and complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats at check-in. Earlier this year, I participated in the Instant Status Pass program with American and happily reached Platinum Pro elite status, one of the top elite status levels with the AAdvantage program.

Since I applied for the status match, I’ve flown with American 6 times and have never received an upgrade. Even if you hold top-tier Executive Platinum status and reside in one of the airline’s main hubs, your chances of getting an upgrade on your next AA flight are still pretty low as the program is saturated with elite members.

2. I Could Earn Transferable Points Instead

As I mentioned in the previous section, the most practical way to earn airline elite status is to spend on an airline’s co-branded credit card. However, if my goal is no longer to earn elite status with an airline, I would much rather put my everyday spending on a card that earns transferable points, like the American Express^® Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

With these points, I can transfer to various transfer partners, both airlines and hotels, or redeem them directly through their respective travel portals. This gives me many more redemption options than if I only earned a single airline currency.

It makes more sense to earn travel rewards that offer flexibility and can be diversified rather than accumulating airline miles that are limited to specific awards with the airline or its partners.

3. I Prefer Hotel Elite Status Over Airline Status

Deciding if hotel elite status is more beneficial than airline elite status really comes down to your travel habits and what you enjoy most. As a dad of 3, I find that a spacious room, like a suite, is much more appealing for my travel plans than having airline elite status.

Having hotel elite status, such as the top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist, means I get a complimentary room upgrade for every stay, including standard suites (depending on availability). I also get 4 p.m. late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and club lounge access, which truly enhances our vacation and amounts to significant savings.

I truly value the perks that come with hotel elite status much more than airline status, which typically only offers a seat with a bit more space. And if I want to sit in business or first class on my next flight, I’ll happily use my points and miles to book that seat instead of depending on a waitlist to get bumped up to the next cabin, which likely won’t happen.

Caveat: I’ll Still Take Advantage of Status Match Opportunities

Sometimes, airlines offer a fantastic status match programs to get elite status with an airline for a limited time. This can improve your travel experience by granting you elite status with a program that would otherwise be difficult for you to attain.

Occasionally, it’s even possible to match your hotel elite status with an airline’s loyalty program, allowing you to experience elite perks with that airline for a limited time.

For example, I have Hilton Honors™ Diamond status, which I got simply by having the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. In the past, when an airline has offered a status match from specific hotel programs to their loyalty program, I’ve taken advantage of this opportunity by status-matching my Hilton Diamond status to enjoy airline elite status for a few months.

Many airlines even extend the period you can keep your status after you’ve fulfilled certain flying requirements. If I choose to regain elite status with an airline, I can easily explore the available status match opportunities, letting me enjoy the extra benefits of my new airline’s elite status.

Final Thoughts

Those who want airline elite status are seeking the “free” benefits, such as more spacious seats, complimentary checked luggage, and sometimes an upgrade to a higher class.

Over the years of trial and error, I’ve ultimately decided to prioritize my hotel elite status over chasing airline elite status since it offers perks that align better with my lifestyle and are more valuable to me. Likewise, if I want to upgrade to business class or a more roomy seat, I can simply pay for it or use travel rewards to offset the cost.

When I consider how much I spend on credit cards each year, I’d much rather earn transferable points that are worth a lot when I redeem them for travel than spend on a co-branded airline card to get elite status that sometimes fails to provide worthwhile benefits. Because of this, I won’t put as much effort into earning airline elite status moving forward.