3 Reasons Why I’m Still Chasing Elite Status in 2024

Elite status can get you all the travel freebies you’ve ever dreamed of having: think upgrades, bonus points, and even drink coupons. But it’s important to remember that they’re not handouts. Earning (and retaining) these levels of status often comes with a high barrier to entry, typically requiring a hefty amount of spend.

Loyalty programs can — without notice — increase the thresholds necessary to qualify for status. They can also devalue their offerings over time, so the rewards you earn won’t go as far as they once did.

Airlines and hotels aren’t the only ones guilty of this. Starbucks and Dunkin’ fanatics have experienced devaluations in their respective caffeinated-based loyalty programs, making it harder than ever to get that next free barista beverage.

That’s why many people are calling it quits altogether. They’ll call themselves a “free agent,” so they’re not tied down to a program. Others argue that loyalty doesn’t matter anymore, or rather, the benefits are not worth the concerted effort it takes to qualify. I get it: Meeting the qualification metrics year after year can be exhausting.

Still, it’s worth pursuing elite status, but not for the reasons you may expect. Here are 3 main reasons why.

1. You Can Earn Elite Status in More Ways Than Ever

Earning elite status is no longer about the miles you fly with an airline or the nights you book with a hotel chain. The game has changed, largely because earning status from co-branded credit card spending is quite lucrative.

Not everyone is a fan of this change. However, I see this as a win-win for both the consumer and the company. As consumers, we can earn elite status from daily spending. In turn, companies can offer more perks and incentives to improve their programs.

Take, for example, the popular Delta Medallion program. Yes, the airline significantly increased status requirements. When these changes were first announced, I considered giving up chasing status.

However, the airline also offers a $2,500 MQD headstart just by holding select Delta SkyMiles cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. The earnings for everyday spending aren’t very generous, giving 1 MQD per $10 or $20 spent depending on the card you have, but at least this is yet another pathway to status.

There are other underrated ways to earn status with Delta. An option is to book a Delta Vacations package or take advantage of limited-time promotions to book hotels, rental cars, or vacation homes through the Delta Extras travel portal. Savvy travelers can leverage these platforms to earn (and retain) their status and earn 1 MQD per dollar spent, opening up opportunities beyond spending on flights.

No matter where you turn, these changes are ever present in other programs. You can earn elite status from shopping portals, dining programs, and select retail partners. In some ways, elite status is easier to earn because of the diverse ways to get those qualifying points.

2. The Benefits Are Still Worth It — And Some Cards Come With Automatic Elite Status

“If everyone is elite, then nobody is elite.” You may have heard this saying before, but I don’t 100% agree with it.

When people say this, they’re probably referring to not getting an upgrade. Nowadays, airlines will sell buy-up offers to first class at a significant discount, and hotels will do the same by selling suites at a lower price to existing reservation holders.

However, if you set your lofty expectations aside, you’ll realize there’s far more value in elite status perks than complimentary upgrades.

Certain travel credit cards offer automatic elite status just by holding the card. One of my favorites is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*, which confers top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status.

That said, I didn’t apply for the card assuming I’d be upgraded to suites at every Hilton property I stayed at. Rather, I value having this level of elite status because it gets me complimentary breakfast on properties outside of the U.S., 100% bonus points on stays, and the ability to status match to other programs (more on this in the next section).

The Hilton Aspire card offers 14x Hilton Honors points on eligible Hilton purchases, and with a 100% bonus from Diamond status, you’ll earn 34x points on all Hilton stays. Why is that not talked about more often!?

You can book some awesome luxury properties around the globe with Hilton points, stacked with free night certificates on the card and a fifth night free on award stays for elite members.

From the points-earning perspective alone, it can be incredibly valuable to have a credit card with automatic elite status for future award trips. Here are just a few examples:

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express: Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold (upon enrollment)
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Hyatt Discoverist
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: IHG One Rewards Platinum
• One Key™ Card and One Key+™ Card: One Key Silver and One Key Gold (respectively)

*The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

3. Status Match Opportunities Are Everywhere

Last but certainly not least, frequent travelers should hold onto at least 1 level of elite status because of 2 magic words: status match.

These opportunities arise all the time, even more so in recent memory. In most cases, you’ll match the level of status you currently have and enjoy another program’s status for a certain time frame, as well as earn a pathway to qualify for status beyond the trial period.

For instance, I’ve had Delta Platinum Medallion status for several years now. I took advantage of a limited-time promotion to get matched to American Airlines Platinum Pro status, and I’ve already earned enough Loyalty Points to qualify me through March 2025.

Last year, I even used my Delta Platinum status to match to Frontier Elite 100K status. There was an application fee of $149, but I felt it was well worth the cost to have through Dec. 31, 2024. I booked a handful of short-haul flights on the airline — including record-low $19 or $29 tickets — and I estimate that I saved at least 3x the cost of the application fee cost on ancillary charges. That means I got free carry-on bags, advance seat assignments at the front of the aircraft, the ability to change or cancel flights anytime, and waived pet fees.

Other recent examples include status matching to JetBlue Mosaic 3 to get free Mint upgrades on flights to London and British Airways Executive Gold to get American Airlines Admirals Club access — even when I’m flying domestically.

All told, I’ll be holding onto at least one level of elite status (whether organically earned or automatically from a credit card) so that I can maximize these opportunities as they arise.

Final Thoughts

You may wonder if elite status is worth it anymore. My answer? A resounding yes.

Frequent travelers should absolutely leverage elite status opportunities to earn more points and perks along the way. While upgrades may be less frequent nowadays, I’m able to make the most of the other benefits offered by these loyalty programs.