It all depends on how often you fly and where you go. A close friend of mine who flies around the country weekly for business was just a few miles below achiev

It all depends on how often you fly and where you go. A close friend of mine who flies around the country weekly for business was just a few miles below achieving Diamond status on Delta for the year, and all of the free upgrades to 1st class, other freebies, Crown Room access, ect made it well worth it to take a flight to nowhere in order to maintain this level.