As we enter the new year, the great reset has occurred: my elite qualifying balances have been zeroed out at various airline and hotel programs and with a clean slate, I have the chance to re-evaluate how I think about loyalty in 2022.
My Loyalty Roadmap For 2022
There’s still so much uncertainty in the world around us, specifically concerning travel. While it seems increasingly unlikely that lockdowns will return, burdensome travel restrictions remain in effect, which make international and even some domestic travel difficult.
I’m not really changing the way I approach airline or hotel loyalty in 2022, which marks a half-hearted approach to airline loyalty and full allegiance to one hotel chain.
Airline Loyalty 2022
By the absolute thinnest of margins ($1), I re-qualified for 1K status on United “outright” in order to receive a fresh allotment of PlusPoints (United’s upgrade currency) for 2022 (United had already extended my status earlier on a complimentary basis).
I will continue to fly United as my preferred carrier this year. I appreciate that United has restored much of the domestic soft product (though the international product is still severely lacking) and the network, schedule, and pricing continue to work best for me.
In terms of the redemption side of the loyalty program, I find Air Canada’s Aeroplan a far more lucrative program, with more partners and better pricing on most routes I fly. For that reason, my status on United is less directed toward Star Alliance redemptions (as it historically has been) and more about ensuring more upgrades when I travel on United metal and the superior customer services that 1K members enjoy.
I also matched to Air Canada 75K status and the program is really growing on me. While the e-upgrade system is more convoluted than PlusPoints at United (I’ll write about this next week), I love Air Canada itself and love that my Star Gold card on Air Canada gives me United Club access whenever I travel on United, something I value more than most since I fly so much on United.
The sad news is that I will shortly be losing my American Airlines Executive Platinum status (thanks to my aborted Hong Kong trip) and more importantly, my oneworld emerald status. That said, I was not able to enjoy it much the last two years, with the pandemic leading to shutdowns of lounges around the world, including the Qantas First Class lounge at LAX and AA’s own network of Flagship Lounges.
While I could match to Alaska Airlines, I’m not sure now is the time. Perhaps in the second half of the year if it becomes clear I am not flying as much.
As for re-qualifying for 1K status, I will state now that unless life changes in a way that I cannot imagine, I will not be able to spend enough to re-qualify once again for 1K status: the bar is too high. However, if United offers quarterly promotions as it did this year, there is hope that I can qualify.
If buying a premium ticket, I will continue to buy based upon the product and flight time I like, which translates to JetBlue and Alaska most often.
Hotel Loyalty 2022
There’s no question I will continue to be loyal to Hyatt…it is by far the best program and really the only hotel program I care about it.
Since I am no longer a Chase – Hyatt co-branded credit card holder, I’ll have to earn nights by actually spending them in hotels…60 nights is a lot of nights and a lot of money, but I cannot imagine living without Hyatt Globalist status…Hyatt still take care of its elite members and its latest World of Hyatt devaluation still leaves it a very valuable program.
I’ll still be Hilton Gold (thanks to status extension) and Marriott Gold (thanks to United Airlines partnership), but I don’t plan to use either chain, if it can be avoided, this year.
Much more so than United, I really don’t even want to look elsewhere when it comes to hotels…Hyatt has earned my loyalty and that’s a powerful expression of how well it treats its frequent guests.
CONCLUSION
Although there are so many unknowns, this year will likely resemble prior year, with most flying on United and most hotel stays at Hyatt.
But worry not, dear readers: all sorts of exotic trips are planned that I cannot wait to share with you thanks to miles and points.
What is your loyalty plan for 2022? More of the same or something new?
In general, I think Aeroplan is a great program. Unfortunately, the award I redeem most frequently is cheaper on United. Otherwise I’d give up on MileagePlus and switch to Aeroplan for earning (mostly via credit card, but maybe also for crediting paid tickets) and burning.
After some voluntary lifestyle changes last year I canceled my DL Amex Platinum and WN Chase cards, I still have some balances left and will use them this year if possible and whatever balances I have afterwards I will donate to charity. I’ve travelled, seen pretty much what I wanted, but now I don’t have the same enthusiasm for the experience I used to. Life’s next chapter awaits!
I don’t have any status with any hotel so that’s not an issue.
I’m Platinum Pro at AA (though I still have two more months to shoot for Executive Platinum —but nothing booked yet and not sure if it’s worth it due to the Omicron surge. I’m Hilton diamond via Aspire card, Aeroplan 50K via status match ( for United/Star Alliance Gold access to lounges here and internationally), ATA Executive via status match (which gets me into Skyteam lounges around the world. I can use my Amex card for domestic Delta lounge access when flying Delta). I am concerned about trying to amass 120,000 Loyalty Points to renew Platinum Pro for 2023 (or 200,000 points for Executive Platinum) because I’m not a big spender. So hopefully promotions throughout the year will help me get there. I’m still curious about Hyatt Globalist status . I hear everyone rave about it and I tried to get it early last year when it ran its double elite night bookings promotions, but I couldn’t justify staying at a hotel just to get that status. I’m sure I’m missing out, but oh well..
Andre- You can easily achieve Platinum Pro. If you were to do it outright just by flying, you would need to spend $13,333 since you would get 9 loyalty points per dollar. Keep in mind that you have 14 months now to achieve that. If you have an AA credit card you could charge that $13K+ which means you would only have to spend $10K. There are also other ways which could help reduce the actual spend. Don’t give up yet
@ Matthew — Good calls on dumping AA and keeping Hyatt. Hyatt is definitely the best! We are making those same two calls for 2022. We will also strive for DL Diamond (it is actually pretty easy to qualify via partner J fares on AM, AF, and KL, plus we hold a mountain of upgrade and BOGO certs that we can maximize) and AS somewhere between 50k and 100k.
Hyatt may have a decent frequent guest programme, but their footprint remains rather small in many (most?) parts of the world.
Curious why you got rid of Chase Hyatt? I consider the annual fee a wash with the 1-4 cert and take the night credits as upside (and hit $15K spend when i can).
It wasn’t that! 😉
A bit complicated…
Got it, glad I’m not thinking about it incorrectly as i plot my 2022 strategy. Thanks for the response!
Chase shutdown?
Not that either.
Why not get the Chase Hyatt card? Between some spend and just having the card it would make things a good bit easier.
@Matthew, I’m not sure if you want to add this to the post above, but aren’t you supposed to have Marriott Bonvoy Gold status because of the RewardsPlus partnership
@John Ryan, he mentioned he had Marriott Gold status through United…
Surprised you just didn’t do the CC spend to keep AA EXP unless you don’t have one of their cards.
My wife and I will both get the new Alaska MVPG 100K at the end of Jan. Would be interesting to see if you can use your 1K status to status match up to that level.
My 2022 status was only gained through promotions: Paying income taxes with an AAdvantage credit card in the 4th quarter saved PPro status, Hyatt’s Q1 double nights promotion last year saved Globalist. The only way to keep these going will be through more promotions and travel on my own dime. I don’t expect business travel to bounce back this year.
I start with Delta Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
I) Regain Delta plat – very easy with rollover / credit card spend
2) Earn Marriott Platinum – I need 35 nights, I should be able to get it
3) Regain Hyatt Explorist – should get it with combination of credit card spend and nights
4) Earn at least AA Platinum – will earn through credit card spend, partner opportunities
5) Consider getting Hilton Diamond by upgrading my Amex (low priority)
Most paid travel be on Delta and Marriott. Hyatt has been good but no real reason to be loyal to them (I can just pay for benefits via FHR, credit card spend).
The only status we spend towards is Mosaic. My wife and I both have it and, now that I’m retired, will each get it on alternating years. With the changes we have had to make to our plans because of Covid, the ability to board first, never get hit with a change fee or luggage fee and to use our points for seat upgrades, I find it invaluable. I also like having a dedicated Mosaic line to call when things become difficult online. I have a ton of points on United that do nothing but go down in value while I wait to make a grand plan for some trips. I have used them in the past for a couple of 1st Class around the world trips or Business class to Asia or Europe. For hotels, I have Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt cards that give me status with them, plus a free night or two. Never cared about the top tiers. I racked up so many points on Starwood that tripled when they became Marriott that I am set for free rooms at Westin and St. Regis for years.
Starting the 10th year in a row as a Delta Diamond but due to changes in work (mostly domestic travel now) it will be hard to re-qualify with the spending requirement. Also starting as Hyatt Globalist due to the reduced requirement in nights but no way I will be able to drop 60 nights at Hyatt this year. Will see!!!
What do you use your plus points on? I made it to 1K this year so now have 320 plus points, but it seems like it’s difficult to actually use them now that the LAX – JFK flight is on a 757. Most of my flying is domestic which already qualifies for free upgrades (which rarely happen now). So does using the plus points move you higher on the upgrade list? I guess that would be the only benefit.
I have had a really tough time using my PlusPoints as well. What airport are you usually flying out of?
SAN
This will be the first time ever that I will qualify for status with all three alliances, but I can’t see myself getting much value outside of *G.
I have bought thirdworld sapphire status through the Finnair offer. I fully expect to regret the purchase as I have read that they are about to introduce premium economy and presumably devalue the upgrade vouchers; fortunately I had resisted the temptation to convert points in order to get emerald status, which is about as much use as a chocolate teapot if you happen to be based in Europe and really not a fan of BA/LHR connections (worse still if you often fly from/to England’s second city through BHX which isn’t really served by BA). I am hoping I will get some value through a couple of cheap AY business redemptions to the Far East and maybe access to the Iberia lounges in Madrid on the odd super cheap ticket for a long weekend in Spain or positioning flight to/from S. America.
I will also reach the heady hights of FB Silver/Skyteam Elite through one ticket- an incredible KQ business class deal from CPT to AMS for £580 return with free NBO stopover thrown in too! My last two AFKL tickets culminated in court claims for completely daft reasons (they didn’t even bother filing a defence, just paid up), so probably won’t be making much use of that status either.
Other than that, it should hopefully be a case of quickly sorting out requalification for A3 *G and then starting to burn a portion of the ridiculous amount of miles that I have amassed in that account, with some miserable paid Lufthansa short haul flights (in both classes) thrown in for good measure.
I continue to believe that free agency is the way forward for hotels. I have already renewed my silver status with NH and will probably also do so with Accor, but I just can’t get excited about ‘free’ breakfasts and ‘upgrades’ to a room with a better view, so will continue to make decisions on a case by case basis, occasionally prioritising those chains depending on what’s on offer in the local market (e.g. I just booked an Accor property in Sao Paulo because I just couldn’t be bothered to research the hundreds of upscale options that were available in the city).
Currently DL Platinum.
-I should be able to requalify easily for Platinum again, $25k spend on my AMEX should be doable again.
Will not seek any hotel status (never have). I don’t care much for a fancy hotel, and I really like the unaffiliated, small boutique ones.
Otherwise, I will continue to just earn CC points (almost done with my Venture X spend!), and possibly look at some low hanging CC bonus fruit (Chase Freedom Flex, CapOne Savor One etc)
Matthew, you are certainly right about UA international service. I’ve done three roundtrips to Europe in the past and really could not say a good thing about any of them. United is certainly taking advantage of the current covid situation.
Due to a job change it will be difficult to requalify for anything I currently have. Hyatt Explorist, United 1K and KL gold. Mind you, if this damn mask thing continues, not sure I’ll miss it.
@PM
Totally agree about the free agency part with hotels and airlines. Just paid for a suite upgrade at a good hotel for what I thought was very little money. Would love to learn more about your research and booking process for Hotels.
Have an NH tip but wouldn’t post that publicly. If you are on Flyertalk send me a PM.
I do see value in status with airline alliances (although, as discussed above, oneworld really doesn’t work for me).
The key difference with hotels is that the ground handling process for economy class is tedious, time-consuming, and occasionally impinging on the dignity of pax. I am willing to pay extra in order to avoid that experience, but I am not about to start giving the likes of SAS or KLM €600 for a ticket in their comical European business classes, so that’s where my *G status comes in handy.
On the other hand, I have never come across any hotels that make customers queue for 40 minutes at check in, check the weight of each individual piece of luggage hoping to reprimand them for having made a suboptimal allocation between pieces and then trap them for an hour in a shopping mall before they are finally allowed into the room.
The NH loophole to which I suspect you are referring closed (or at least got substantially tightened) very quickly after it was published on travel-dealz, I missed out on it unfortunately!
The process of choosing hotels is not particularly easy for me! I also don’t really value top-notch luxury (at least not in the places that I tend to visit; I suppose I can see the attraction of a secluded private villa in Maldives, particularly if you can’t really go out for a walk because you are stuck on a tiny island), but I do dislike small rooms, so it’s usually a case of checking what Accor and NH have to offer in terms of higher-category rooms, then looking at other options through the likes of trivago trying to guess which hotels will have competitively priced junior suites etc. Given that the aggregators all display the headline price for the cheapest room in a hotel, the process is inevitably messy, and that results in me making Accor reservations a bit more often than I probably should.
I’m continue to trust that free agency is the way forward for hotels. Also booked an Accor property in Sao Paulo because I just couldn’t be bothered to saw the hundreds of upscale options that were available in the city.