5 ms·

If you are a frequent flier, you want elite status (at least equivalent to Gold), because the perks (especially priority access, Lounge, preferred seats etc) ac

If you are a frequent flier, you want elite status (at least equivalent to Gold), because the perks (especially priority access, Lounge, preferred seats etc) actually make travel better and more convenient. So not putting all eggs in one basket then simply does not do the job. I'd argue that most of those who reach the extremes of mile madness actually love it, even if they sometimes might seem to be irrationally stressed due to pressure to maintain their status. It's a hobby, and one that can get you to unexpected places of the world - even if the initial motivation might have been to chase some miles.

hammock 11y ago
>the perks (especially priority access, Lounge, preferred seats etc) actually make travel better and more convenient. So not putting all eggs in one basket then simply does not do the job. For $1067, you can get a year of TSA Precheck, Economy Plus and United Club lounge access, which is about how much you might save by comparison shopping on just half a dozen flights. And if you are a "frequent flier" you are probably flying more than that.
- morgante 11y ago
  Even better, just get an American Express Platinum Card. It'll give you Global Entry (with Precheck), Priority Pass membership, and $200 in airline credit.
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    I'm actually about to let my Amex Platinum Card lapse. It's no longer worth the $450/year fee, despite free Global Entry ever five years. Their points are becoming worthless (Chase has done well in this regard, partnering with United and Southwest), travel booked directly with Amex is usually simple more expensive than other travel aggregators, Costco is dropping taking Amex, etc. I signed up for a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and its far superior. Its rental car insurance is first tier/full coverage; I have no need to file a claim with my own insurance ever if I use the card. The rewards are much better, and the yearly fee is only $100.
    - ghaff 11y ago
      Depending upon your requirements, some of the other Chase cards are pretty useful as well. Currently you can use their United Club card to get a qualifying dollar waiver on status levels. It's otherwise not as good as the Sapphire but, if you fly a lot of domestic economy on relatively inexpensive routes, the waiver can be good to have.
    - morgante 11y ago
      I put most of my spend on my Chase card as well (they have some great transfer partners, especially for international award flights). However, for me the $450 fee is easily worth it. The airline fee credit drops it down to $250. And $250 for lounge access + precheck + Boingo + SPG/HHonors Gold is worth it to me. Without those benefits, I'd be tempted to pursue loyalty to an airline and I save well over $250 a year by price shopping.
      - toomuchtodo 11y ago
        > And $250 for lounge access + precheck + Boingo + SPG/HHonors Gold is worth it to me. I guess that's the crux. Its becoming a very niche card. You have to fit a very specific profile for the fee to be worth it.
      - desigooner 11y ago
        I'm going to get a Citi Prestige as my next card, which to me works better than Amex Plat - 4th night free on paid hotel stays, Admirals Club access, Priority Pass Select for primary & authorized users (with access to 2 guests free vs. none on Amex Plat), Global Entry and 250$ in flight credit that can be redeemed for airfare vs. incidental charges with Amex. Not to mention, it's easy to get an in-branch offer of $350 a year plus the fact that there's no bonus for everyday spending on Amex Plats.
  - djcapelis 11y ago
    You can also just pay the $100 fee for Global Entry, which is good for ten years. $10/yr is a pretty slim benefit.
    - ryanburk 11y ago
      $100 for 5 years [1] [1] https://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart https://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart
      - sokoloff 11y ago
        If you are near (or travel to) the Canadian border, Nexus is a better deal at $50/5 years (and includes Global Entry).
- phil21 11y ago
  If you're a frequent flier you will save a hell of a lot more than $1067 on the free upgrades alone. TSA Precheck is rapidly becoming worth less and less, if it continues at this rate it will be the regular lines in a year or two. When grandma who flies once every 2 years can get it, it ruins the entire point. I've switched back to regular priority lines at some airports these days as they are faster. The #1 perk any frequent flier will tell you matters the most is having competent people who pick up the phone instantly during IRROPS (e.g. weather/flight problems). Simply using this once a year trivially pays for itself by putting you so far ahead of the regular queue I still get amazed sometimes. Plus having them available for wonky changes/etc. due to rapidly changing schedules is great - 90% of the time they simply waive change fees for me. I agree that the programs are becoming pretty gutted, but still barely hold enough value for me to keep "loyal" to my main airline. The experience flying Elite with them vs. plebe on other domestic carriers is night and day.
  - ufmace 11y ago
    > TSA Precheck is rapidly becoming worth less and less, if it continues at this rate it will be the regular lines in a year or two. When grandma who flies once every 2 years can get it, it ruins the entire point. I've switched back to regular priority lines at some airports these days as they are faster. Funny, this reminds me of when they tried the 3-tier security lines, for business, regular, and families, IIRC. I usually travel by myself, and have my stuff together enough to go through the security lines fast. I found the families one was actually the fastest, since everybody thinks they're fast/business and skips that one.
  - djcapelis 11y ago
    > The #1 perk any frequent flier will tell you matters the most is having competent people who pick up the phone instantly during IRROPS (e.g. weather/flight problems). Simply using this once a year trivially pays for itself by putting you so far ahead of the regular queue I still get amazed sometimes. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I get better service than you even when I don't have status. I can and do rebook my flights on my phone, with my preferred routing and timing before the rush for seats begin as other people go try and call someone or god forbid, walk up to a desk and stand in line to do it in person. No status needed. Delta's app will definitely automatically recognize a delayed or diverted flight and allow you to rebook. It even allows you to browse flights to alternate destinations, so I have totally switched from a plane going arriving at OAK to one arriving at SFO while taxing at SLC. Oh, I also regularly switch to better seats in the days before my flight. I switched from middle to window on my flight leaving tomorrow this morning and moved up seven rows on the return flight, all without needing to make a phone call.
- ghaff 11y ago
  Unless you have very high status, you're paying for TSA Precheck and (domestic) lounge access out of pocket. I'm not sure what exactly the status of Economy Plus is if you don't get it with status. I know you pay for it but you may not be able to pick preferred seating on United at the time of booking.
  - ryanlol 11y ago
    Just BTW, you can book refundable 1st class tickets for free lounge access. One could argue it's immoral, but lots of people (including many airlines) seem to think these things are just a part of the game.

hammock 11y ago

>the perks (especially priority access, Lounge, preferred seats etc) actually make travel better and more convenient. So not putting all eggs in one basket then simply does not do the job. For $1067, you can get a year of TSA Precheck, Economy Plus and United Club lounge access, which is about how much you might save by comparison shopping on just half a dozen flights. And if you are a "frequent flier" you are probably flying more than that.

morgante 11y ago
Even better, just get an American Express Platinum Card. It'll give you Global Entry (with Precheck), Priority Pass membership, and $200 in airline credit.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  I'm actually about to let my Amex Platinum Card lapse. It's no longer worth the $450/year fee, despite free Global Entry ever five years. Their points are becoming worthless (Chase has done well in this regard, partnering with United and Southwest), travel booked directly with Amex is usually simple more expensive than other travel aggregators, Costco is dropping taking Amex, etc. I signed up for a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and its far superior. Its rental car insurance is first tier/full coverage; I have no need to file a claim with my own insurance ever if I use the card. The rewards are much better, and the yearly fee is only $100.
  - ghaff 11y ago
    Depending upon your requirements, some of the other Chase cards are pretty useful as well. Currently you can use their United Club card to get a qualifying dollar waiver on status levels. It's otherwise not as good as the Sapphire but, if you fly a lot of domestic economy on relatively inexpensive routes, the waiver can be good to have.
  - morgante 11y ago
    I put most of my spend on my Chase card as well (they have some great transfer partners, especially for international award flights). However, for me the $450 fee is easily worth it. The airline fee credit drops it down to $250. And $250 for lounge access + precheck + Boingo + SPG/HHonors Gold is worth it to me. Without those benefits, I'd be tempted to pursue loyalty to an airline and I save well over $250 a year by price shopping.
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      > And $250 for lounge access + precheck + Boingo + SPG/HHonors Gold is worth it to me. I guess that's the crux. Its becoming a very niche card. You have to fit a very specific profile for the fee to be worth it.
    - desigooner 11y ago
      I'm going to get a Citi Prestige as my next card, which to me works better than Amex Plat - 4th night free on paid hotel stays, Admirals Club access, Priority Pass Select for primary & authorized users (with access to 2 guests free vs. none on Amex Plat), Global Entry and 250$ in flight credit that can be redeemed for airfare vs. incidental charges with Amex. Not to mention, it's easy to get an in-branch offer of $350 a year plus the fact that there's no bonus for everyday spending on Amex Plats.
- djcapelis 11y ago
  You can also just pay the $100 fee for Global Entry, which is good for ten years. $10/yr is a pretty slim benefit.
  - ryanburk 11y ago
    $100 for 5 years [1] [1] https://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart https://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart
    - sokoloff 11y ago
      If you are near (or travel to) the Canadian border, Nexus is a better deal at $50/5 years (and includes Global Entry).
phil21 11y ago
If you're a frequent flier you will save a hell of a lot more than $1067 on the free upgrades alone. TSA Precheck is rapidly becoming worth less and less, if it continues at this rate it will be the regular lines in a year or two. When grandma who flies once every 2 years can get it, it ruins the entire point. I've switched back to regular priority lines at some airports these days as they are faster. The #1 perk any frequent flier will tell you matters the most is having competent people who pick up the phone instantly during IRROPS (e.g. weather/flight problems). Simply using this once a year trivially pays for itself by putting you so far ahead of the regular queue I still get amazed sometimes. Plus having them available for wonky changes/etc. due to rapidly changing schedules is great - 90% of the time they simply waive change fees for me. I agree that the programs are becoming pretty gutted, but still barely hold enough value for me to keep "loyal" to my main airline. The experience flying Elite with them vs. plebe on other domestic carriers is night and day.
- ufmace 11y ago
  > TSA Precheck is rapidly becoming worth less and less, if it continues at this rate it will be the regular lines in a year or two. When grandma who flies once every 2 years can get it, it ruins the entire point. I've switched back to regular priority lines at some airports these days as they are faster. Funny, this reminds me of when they tried the 3-tier security lines, for business, regular, and families, IIRC. I usually travel by myself, and have my stuff together enough to go through the security lines fast. I found the families one was actually the fastest, since everybody thinks they're fast/business and skips that one.
- djcapelis 11y ago
  > The #1 perk any frequent flier will tell you matters the most is having competent people who pick up the phone instantly during IRROPS (e.g. weather/flight problems). Simply using this once a year trivially pays for itself by putting you so far ahead of the regular queue I still get amazed sometimes. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I get better service than you even when I don't have status. I can and do rebook my flights on my phone, with my preferred routing and timing before the rush for seats begin as other people go try and call someone or god forbid, walk up to a desk and stand in line to do it in person. No status needed. Delta's app will definitely automatically recognize a delayed or diverted flight and allow you to rebook. It even allows you to browse flights to alternate destinations, so I have totally switched from a plane going arriving at OAK to one arriving at SFO while taxing at SLC. Oh, I also regularly switch to better seats in the days before my flight. I switched from middle to window on my flight leaving tomorrow this morning and moved up seven rows on the return flight, all without needing to make a phone call.
ghaff 11y ago
Unless you have very high status, you're paying for TSA Precheck and (domestic) lounge access out of pocket. I'm not sure what exactly the status of Economy Plus is if you don't get it with status. I know you pay for it but you may not be able to pick preferred seating on United at the time of booking.
- ryanlol 11y ago
  Just BTW, you can book refundable 1st class tickets for free lounge access. One could argue it's immoral, but lots of people (including many airlines) seem to think these things are just a part of the game.