Today is the great reset. 2023 is out, 2024 is in, and most of my trackers reset today when it comes to elite status. Let’s review 2023 and look ahead to elite status in 2024…which (big surprise) is probably going to be more of the same.
2024 Airline Elite Status
I finished 2023 with 1K status on United Airlines:
Rather than spend $24,000 outright on United travel, I flew 54 segments, which brought the minimum spending down to $18,000. Officially, I ended up spending about $1K over that, though some of the partner flights credited at much lower rates than I actually paid thanks to United’s strict limits on earning premier qualifying dollars from partner tickets.
> Read More: United Socks It To MileagePlus Flyers Outside USA With New Earning Cutbacks
I have found quite 1K status quite valuable over the years and never had a problem using up all of my PlusPoints, which I did again this year. However, I also bought first class tickets a whole lot more on domestic routes this year because I knew my upgrades would not clear otherwise.
We’ll see how upgrades goes in the weeks ahead, but even though I can always count on being toward the top of the waitlist, United prices premium cabin tickets competitively on domestic routes and these seats often sell out before upgrades are cleared. On any flight where it matters (i.e. most flights over a few hours), I am going to buy up to first if there is any doubt as to whether I will clear.
I considered investing in Pass Plus this year, but my wife does not travel enough to justify it. In fact, no one that I know does…that price has now gone way up.
Both domestically and internationally, United and the Star Alliance network work best for me, though I hope to branch out and review many new products this year, which I will detail in a future post.
I do not have elite status in any other airline program.
2024 Hotel Elite Status
It should come as no surprise that I was loyal to Hyatt once again. I barely re-qualified for Globalist status…but I did hit 60 nights.
I continue to find that Hyatt takes care of its elite members, particularly Globalist members, and that redemptions on Hyatt remain quite competitive (I can often coax three cents or more per point in my redemptions).
But I had to do a mattress run (stay tuned) and if a tree had not fallen on my house, I would not have made the 60 nights.
Will I make 60 nights in 2024? I will certainly try, but who knows. You can see I didn’t spend all that many dollars in 2023, though I used a whole lot of Hyatt points. My point balance is depleted and I would like to replenish it.
I have Marriott Gold status and Hilton Gold status, which I do not plan to use this year.
CONCLUSION
I wish I could fully break free of status hamster wheel, but the perks are nice–especially the upgrades (to first class or hotel suites). This is going to be a critical year in many ways and personal events will likely end up influencing how much travel I am able to do…and where.
Happy New Year! Here’s to a great year of travel! What are you chasing in 2024?
Not chasing anything. Didn’t make to Hyatt Globalist again and won’t miss it. The opportunity cost to reach 60 nights (got 40) was way too high so if I stay at Hyatt hotels in 2024 it will still be OK. I got Delta Diamond again for 15 years in a row but won’t chase it again. It might happen and it will be nice but will be fine otherwise. I usually fly paid business class internationally so having status won’t change much as it has been almost impossible to get upgraded domestically.
I was the person who vowed for cheap hotels only, but I am now taking a closer look at Hyatt points (not necessarily status).
Still can make DL Platinum for 2025 I think.
Thinking of finally opening AMEX MR card this year (if I do, probably Gold)
Happy New Year, I’ll be better this year :]
Please use my link if you do! 😉
LALF Credit Cards
Happy New Year!
In most markets outside of the USA. the American chains usually are comically overpriced. Recent stay in Madrid, the rate for the 3-star Hyatt Centric was over double what I paid for the 4* Pullman (which admittedly isn’t as centrally located, but is on a metro line which can get you to the city centre or the airport in less than 15 minutes).
Most Americans like to stay at American hotel chains because they feel comfortable and “safe” meaning they know what to expect. I could not agree more with your comment and find European and Asian chains a much better value than American chains. I am now staying at non chain hotels which provide a tremendous value with better service and better prices and in most places outside the US include free breakfast and do not charge stupid fees on top of the room rate.
I do have status with Accor and GHA, but I also like going to non-chain hotels from time to time- I am usually happy with them but it’s not always plain sailing, as some of them have strict policies e.g. around check-in/out times. Given that the US doesn’t normally feature in my travel plans, Marriott and Hyatt points are completely useless to me, and in fact I haven’t stayed at any of their hotels in over ten years – not because I actively avoid them but because they have been overpriced every single time I checked. Hilton does have some competitively priced properties in the UK, so I can see myself having some use for their points, but I honestly would know how to value those of the other two.
*would not
You are completely correct. What I think you’re overlooking are the cultural and linguistic differences that can be extremely awkward for Americans. Most Americans only speak English and trying to deal with issues at a front desk where there’s a linguistic disconnect can be rough. Or maybe a traveler doesn’t know what the traditional expectations are in a certain place. Even Switzerland has laws against flushing a toilet at night.
Anyway, staying with a familiar chain offers a certain sense of security that people are willing to pay extra for in many cases. If you benefit as a result, props to you.
If you aren’t really counting on upgrades within the USA, are you sure you are better off with UA status as opposed to *G somewhere else?
Perhaps not, but I have the Club card so Star Gold becomes less important (I have lifetime Gold anyway on UA, but of course that does not allow lounge access). I find the Plus Points very valuable – I use them all for myself or family/friends and put a high value on them.
You have the Club card? Is that recent? I recall you saying you didn’t bank with Chase recently.
I don’t bank with Chase but I was added as an authorized user.
What’s your lifetime balance. Sounds like you’re 1M, are you 2MM? Clearly 3MM allows one to sit back and enjoy the ride the rest of the way, unless either you have an insane job and would hit 4MM organically or you’re just insane and want to get to 4MM on your own.
1.5. I’ll get to 3 eventually, but it will be later in life. No more $500 LAX-HNL-SFO-SYD-SFO-HNL-LAX fares and other cheap fares that used to net a ton of lifetime flight miles (and EQMs and RDMs).
Any chance you could write about those? Even if it’s no longer in effect it’s still fun to hear about great deals from days gone by.
Ah. I see. I don’t know how pluspoints compare to elite upgrade vouchers from the likes of Turkish, and I suspect that it wouldn’t be an easy comparison. And you’re also based close to UA hubs so you can fly them to a lot of places without much backtraking.
One more year of Alaska Airlines 75k is hopefully in the cards for me… I just need it to last ’til Qantas opens up that First Class lounge at LHR in 2025 so I can visit it LOL. Just booked a trip to Utqiagvik AK to help!
My 279 segments in 2023 (ouch) yielded me status with UA, AS, F9, DL, NK, and WN. I could have done higher status with fewer carriers if I focused, but eh… domestic front cabin fares are so reasonable.
Best status of the lot still goes to Spirit Airlines Gold. I just got off the phone with the “Travel Concierge” to cancel a flight for tonight, rebook for 3 weeks from now on a different route, and get a travel credit back somehow. Total time from hitting “call” to hang up and all done? 4 minutes and 7 seconds.
No status is the new status.
None of those companies give a shat about your “loyalty”.
My 2024 will be my heaviest travel schedule yet between personal vacations, family visits, and work/professional travel and the destinations are such that I may in fact achieve United status for the first time (still deciding but very likely I’ll be opening the Quest card to get the 500 PQP to kickstart things). Have American Platinum status currently thanks to putting lots of work purchases through the shopping portal in early 2022 and I’ve enjoyed the perks from that (including oneworld Sapphire perks) over almost two years but sadly that will lapse on April 1.
On the hotel side, because I manage my company’s hotel spend, the changes to the World of Hyatt program are very much in my favor. Unlikely to get to 60 nights but definitely the new sweet spot at 40, where I can treat myself to GoH for my spouse’s and my next vacation abroad, is very much in reach.
Due to my Chase Marriott Bonvoy card’s 15 elite night credits on January 1, I just made Lifetime Platinum. There is no longer an option for Lifetime Titanium so I guess I could start pursuing another chain.
One additional unplanned work trip secon to last week of Dec, pushed me just over 18K and 54 segments to get 1K for the first time…was definitely not planning or trip. 74 nights at Hyatt so even without World of Hyatt Card and 15K spend would have reached Globalist. Hilton is dropping from Diamond to Gold, which is fine. January starting out with a bang in terms of travel will be UA silver without the promised 1500 PQP for being 1K. I rally need to travel less for work this year – too much, but already booked a weeklong trip to SoCal with the entire family and planning family vacation to Europe in the summer. Thanks points and Miles.
Finally, Matt Happy New Year and I truly hope this year brings for positive events to you and family.
That’s a cool photo… what are you looking at?
Just a photo taken at Andaz Amsterdam.
Are you close to lifetime Globalist?
Sadly, I’m not. Only about halfway there. I got a late start. Only embraced hotel loyalty about a decade ago.