In just 2 weeks, we’ll see the start of a new year, and, unfortunately, the reset button on elite status qualification.
So, I decided it would be worthwhile to take a look at my elite status strategy for 2015, and where I’ll be spending my time and money. From this post, I am excluding all elite status levels that are free (for example: SPG Gold status from having the American Express Platinum Card). Only included here is status levels to which I personally pay for stays, flights, etc., in.
American Airlines
Executive Platinum status is quite valuable, and so long as American keeps their current program in place, I’m happy with what’s on offer.
Things I appreciate most about EXP:
- Free award ticket redeposits and changes
- Complimentary domestic upgrades
- 8 systemwide upgrades
Most likely, I’ll be qualifying on miles, which means I’ll need to fly 100,000 miles to retain the status moving forward.
Kimpton Inner Circle
I consider Kimpton’s Inner Circle status one of the most valuable hotel elite status programs. In just a few stays, you can earn a free night. If you stay at 10 different properties, you’ll earn 2 more free nights. Plus, you’ll earn free nights at all the new properties they open. It’s like Kimpton is trying to give away rooms. At only 14 stays a year, this is a real easy status to maintain, and I find the benefits far outweigh what it would cost to stay those 14 stays.
Hyatt Diamond
For internatonal stays, Hyatt really offers some exquisite properties. In 2015, I have stays planned at the Park Hyatt New York, Park Hyatt Milan, Park Hyatt Melbourne and Park Hyatt Sydney, to name a few. For those nights alone, maintaining Diamond status is key.
Things I love most about Hyatt Diamond:
- 4 confirmed suite upgrades a year
- Welcome amenity, which I usually take as the 1,000 bonus points
- Complimentary breakfast
Where will you be focussing your efforts in 2015?
Jamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler.
This is awesome! I hope you reach your goals! I’m not a big hotel elite person so I have no plans on the hotel front, although I’ll be SPG gold thanks to the Amex Plat card. I’ll also be Hyatt Plat since I attended FTU Amsterdam a few months ago. I think that’s pretty much it and I’m content with that.
On the airline front, I plan to be Flying Blue gold this year since I’m earning miles at the moment to redeem for AF La Premiere. If all goes to plan, I should have enough miles by the end of this year. 🙂
I also plan to renew Virgin Atlantic gold. I’ll fly across the pond enough times to requalify and have always preferred VS to BA.
Good luck and safe travels!