After years of frustration with loyalty programs I proudly freed myself of the elite status grind. I hated it and came crawling back to both airline and hotel status.
Why Chasing Status Had Run Its Course
Every year the requirements get higher, the benefits are fewer – what’s the point in being loyal to a brand when it won’t be loyal to its clients? I had been loyal to American Airlines for more than 20 years achieving status (often Executive Platinum) for more than half that period. But following an experience in which Qatar sold business class for 40% less than American flying to the same airports with the same access to catering and seeing the contrasting experience, I realized that the grass was greener elsewhere.
Yet I moved to United because, for my travel plans, that made more sense.
The frustrations shifted from an inability to find flights to redeem systemwide upgrades, to paying more for a far ejust to have the chance to potentially upgrade. The award prices were also incompatible.
Coming back to American after a failed United experiment, the world had changed. What used to qualify for Executive Platinum status was now just Platinum (not even the newer 3rd level tier, Platinum Pro.) It seemed the goal posts had moved ever further out.
At Hyatt, the program separated its loyalty tiers from the benefits associated with reaching them, instead shifting to milestones. It also moved the target from 50 nights or 25 stays to 60 nights flat. For someone who qualified on short stays, that was a problem. Hilton didn’t move the goal posts but also struggled to deliver meaningful benefits.
End of year status runs across the globe could be fun but were often inconvenient and stressed family relations.
Many Loyalists Have Tried To Quit
I’m happy to raise my hand as one that had experienced enough chasing for less and less and decided to quit. Matthew’s own travel plans have changed and he doesn’t see himself chasing status in 2026. He’s not alone, everywhere in the travel blog space loyalists are being loyal to themselves and their wallet, choosing better prices, better service, and avoiding connections to achieve their travel goals.
Frankly, with hotel programs like Virtuoso and Tablet, there’s less of a need for status on properties and far more flexibility. For a very long time there were just a handful of Hyatts in New York City and it was difficult to be loyal when the location is so important. (My agency’s booking engine has both feeds and a lot more but it’s behind a password to restrict access to clients, email me [email protected] if you’d like the password.)
Why I Came Running Back
I had become less a creature of habit and more of a house cat when it came to traveling. My issues came when travel plans changed and I found that without status, it was as if I was a stranger even to travel brands I frequented often in the past. I don’t mind boarding later in the process or paying for a better seat (though those costs add up quickly over the course of a year) but it was when I really needed a little support that I realized the value of holding status.
It’s the same thing at hotels, of course. The smallest ask, something as simple as a slightly later check-out (noon instead of 11 AM) was met with deep sighs and clacking on a keyboard instead of yes and amen.
Service should be better across the industry and you shouldn’t have to hold status to ensure you’re treated like an elite customer, that’s not how our staff treat clients and I don’t frequent establishments that require something extra to be treated with dignity… except in travel. Until I find brands that change their philosophy and execution at scale, it’s back to the status missions of old.
My Focus Programs In 2026
American Airlines has made it so easy to qualify for business owners counting Loyalty Points from credit card spend and offering big bonus opportunities across the shopping portal and hotel bookings too. They are a no brainer and I compliment my business credit card spend with flying – a 180° flip from a few years ago.
I’ll return to Hyatt as well, but award stays are now about 30% of my elite earning mix. I hold Gold with Marriott and Hilton from the American Express Platinum card and though I am not that far away from Lifetime Diamond with Hilton, I am not going out of my way to earn Diamond again nor am I adding the requisite credit card to grant me the status.
Access to Virtuoso, Tablet Plus, and the other premium amenity programs give me the flexibility I need.
I won’t be going for Spirit Gold again for two reasons, the first is that due to cuts it no longer flies the route most convenient for me between Pittsburgh and Fort Myers. Second, I don’t trust the shifting sands with potential mergers or shutting down altogether.
I hold JetBlue Mosaic 4 due to a status challenge last year and I will be looking to fly them more especially as they evolve their European offerings. I still haven’t flown Mint and I aim to correct that this year.
Conclusion
Elite status adds real value to my experience and helps me overcome challenges. I don’t care about the luggage tags or the early boarding as much, but save real money on preferred seat selection and confirmed upgrades for long haul flights when I can secure them. At hotels, it seems to be even more important and Hyatt is the only destination for me with Virtuoso and Tablet Plus filling in the gaps.
What about you? Ar eyou chasing status this year?
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