We’re halfway through the year and I’m happy to report I’m right on target for top-tier status on one airline and one hotel chain. How about you?
This year, I’m focusing on 1K status on United and Globalist status with World of Hyatt. Let’s start with United.
United Airlines
After holding 1K status from 2008 to 2015, I let it go…coasting on my lifetime MillionMiler Premier Gold status and becoming more of a free agent. But as travel has picked up with my new business venture, I’ve found myself once again the “road warrior”. My travel on United is no longer to commute between Philadelphia and LA for law school…now it it is to close deals and build relationships across Europe and Asia.
Last year I ended the year with 97,010 United elite qualifying miles…and only Premier Gold status to show for it. Why? I did not spend the $12,000 necessary to re-qaulify for 1K status nor did I even meet the $25K spend requirement on my United Explorer Visa card from Chase in order to get Platinum without spending $9,000 on United Airlines tickets.
> Read More: Less Than 3K Miles from 1K Status on United, But…
I won’t make that mistake this year…I’m sure I’ll close at least Premier Platinum status thanks to credit card spend, but what about 1K? You can see that I’ve earned over 53K elite qualifying miles this year on United and spent less than $3K. There’s no way I am going to reach the $12K spend requirement. By principle I’d use miles before I spent that much money on United travel.
But I’m always tempted to re-reigster to my German address. It’s legit and that would totally exempt me from the minimum spend requirement. What’s stopping me? I’m not sure…
World of Hyatt
I’m already at 35 Hyatt nights for the year, with only 20 left to go. Once I get my new World of Hyatt Visa Credit Card from Chase, I’ll be able to meet the remaining nights by spending alone. Even without the card, though, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble earning the extra 20 nights.
> Read More: Three Reasons I’ll Upgrade To The World of Hyatt Visa Credit Card
People often ask me why I’m so loyal to Hyatt. I know the hotel has a limited global footprint, but I love the pampering treatment I get at as a Globalist member at properties around the world. There’s nothing special about a Hyatt Place or Hyatt House, but Hyatt has so many aspirational properties around the world that I have enjoyed so much over the years.
I’m more than halfway toward lifetime Globalist status. Hopefully in the next few years I can finish that and earn Globalist status for the rest of my life.
CONCLUSION
I have Gold status with Hilton and Marriott as well, but have not stayed at a Hilton or Marriott property once this year. I do not have status with any other airlines. At least for now, I’m very happy with United and Hyatt and well on my way toward re-qualifying for top-tier status for 2019.
How about you? How is your status re-qualifcation going?
Have 160,000 Delta MQM’s so far this year (35k of those were rollover from last year). Also have 20 stays on SPG properties. I get your point on Hyatt BUT you have to be lucky to have a job that takes you to where you can find a Hyatt property. In my case that is almost impossible. Most of my business trips are to Europe including smaller cities where most people don’t even know Hyatt exists.
I feel you on the Hyatt thing. I used to hustle and mattress run to Diamond, but it got too hard when they changed the program. This new Marriott/SPG combo is working out great for me. I still have quite a few Hyatt points left and the CC with the silly nothing status, so I’m looking forward to draining the account on something big and fancy. After that I’ll probably cancel the CC and move on.
Why you do not chose OZ Diamond Plus lifetime status as your goal? 500k miles only. I know, they give 125% for most business class flights but with your flight path it is quite easy to achieve.
Poor customer service. Calling Asiana is like pulling teeth.
I’m at 60,821 PQM and 7,341 PQD. Last year I, reluctantly, did a PQD run in December and retained 1K. This year the GPUs have been invaluable – a combination of low W fares and high P fares on a couple of routes. I’m going for 1K again!
As a Globalist-lite, I’m on the fence about Hyatt. I may go for full Globalist with help from the credit card.
Don’t travel for work. Hard to get status. My wife has the SWA Companion Pass for the rest of this year and all of 2019. Im thinking about pushing forward to get my Companion Pass as well. (30,000 rapid reward points remaining)
Im a current Hyatt Globalist (light). Hoping to earn Globalist status again. Currently at 22 Nights.
I’m at 200K Delta MQMs and $20K MQDs. I wish I could rollover MQDs! I’ve been lucky with great business class fares on AF and AZ this year which have inflated the MQDs.
I stick with my UA gold as a million miler too. It will come in handy for a great $375 RT fligh from IAH-KOA this month!
I really don’t see why you don’t just pull the trigger on the foreign address if you have the documentation. You’d easily make 1K and lose out on almost nothing (except most promotions).
I’m letting my 1K status go this year. Will be good next year. I could of stretched for Platinum but even they have award fees now, and RPUs are next to worthless. I won’t be upset losing 1K. Gold is good enough for E+.
United Airlines is the worst. Having been screwed again on my last trip to Europe, I won’t put another pansy on that credit card and will book any other airline when possible.
Terrible terrible service.
48,000 miles flown with Alaska (been an MVP GOLD 75K for several years) and 49 nights at Marriott/SPG (been Platinum forever). Also have Silver status on UA, but only use them as backup.
Didn’t the Swiss First Class paid tickets count toward your status? That should have added a bunch on the PQD’s.
Nope, didn’t book on United ticket stock and that flight took took place in late 2017.
One roundtrip in La Premiere got me Flying Blue Silver, though I unfortunately won’t be able to move beyond that. I have a couple more SkyTeam longhauls this year, so I’ll milk it for everything I can. The real dilemma I’m going to have later this year is what to do about hotel status. I have Honors Gold for the rest of the year, but have no hope of requalifying. Road trips and blog boondoggles get me probably 15 nights or so per year, so I’m debating whether to get the new Hilton Aspire card to keep the Gold status. I’ve found some of the benefits really do come in handy when traveling with a kid.
Use the address! It’s silly not to do that.