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Elite Status

American Offering AAdvantage Members Opportunity to Buy-back Elite Status

January 2, 2013

For those AAdvantage members who didn’t re-qualify for elite status for 2013, American Airlines is offering the opportunity to buy-back your elite status. This is only for those members who held AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold status in 2012, so if you were hoping to buy-back Executive Platinum status, you wouldn’t be able to. If you are [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Is It Worth Going for United Platinum?

December 30, 2012

TPG reader Chuck asks: “I’m about 2,600 miles from qualifying for United Platinum this year.  I’ve thought about taking a trip before the end of the year to get the needed points. What value would you estimate being Platinum is, over my current Gold level for United Airlines?” Placing value on elite status can be [...]

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My Street Signs Appearance on CNBC – How To Avoid the Elite Status Frequent Flyer Cliff

December 28, 2012

Just in time for a debate on whether the US economy would go off the fiscal cliff, I was invited to appear on CNBC’s “Street Signs” to discuss ways frequent flyers could avoid the elite status cliff with last-minute elite mileage tips, why top-tier elite status is so important, as well as credit card bonus [...]

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End Of Year Airline Miles Account Audit – Claiming Miles That Are Rightfully Yours

December 26, 2012

As the year comes to an end, and everyone is concerned about maintaining elite status, I wrote earlier this week about End of Year Hotel Point Account Audits, so today I look at how to make sure you received all the airline miles that you are due this year. Similar to hotel programs, I almost always find discrepancies in my [...]

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End of Year Hotel Point Account Audits – Maximizing the Points That Are Rightfully Yours

December 24, 2012

As year ends comes and everyone is most concerned about maintaining elite status, it’s always good to cross-reference your hotel loyalty program accounts and make sure that all of your stays were credited appropriately. I almost always find discrepancies and I’ve noticed that phone operators are always more than helpful to make things right, and [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How to Extend an American Airlines EVIP Upgrade?

December 23, 2012

TPG reader Jeff asks: “Many of us have American Airline e-VIP’s that are expiring at the end of February 2013 that we need to use up, or somehow extend.  American will NOT extend the expiration date, but you can use them on a ticket that is then cancelled and remains good for a year?” Jeff [...]

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1,000 Free United Miles for Joining BCKSTGR

December 20, 2012

Right now when you join a social media marketing platform called Bckstgr.com, you can earn up to 1,000 free United miles. Initially, I thought the site looked a little bit sketchy and I was hesitant to enter my United login information, it is legitimate and I’ve received my 1,000 United miles, so I feel comfortable [...]

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Earning Hotel Lifetime Elite Status – Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt

December 20, 2012

Marriott recently announced some new changes to their lifetime elite status program on the Marriott Rewards Insider blog, including reduced night requirements for all three levels and signalling a new era in which they’ll be promoting these benefits rather than leaving them largely unpublished. MARRIOTT The new requirements for earning Lifetime Status with Marriott are [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: When Does Airline Elite Status Start and End?

December 16, 2012

TPG reader Spencer asks: “I’ll move up from Delta Medallion Silver to Gold next year… but will I still be a Silver for flights in January and February or will my level up be recognized as soon as the new year hits? My Silver status says it’s valid through February 2013.” Elite status qualification and [...]

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Last-Minute Virgin America Elevate Elite Status Qualification Ideas

December 14, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification, Last-Minute Elite Status [...]

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Last-Minute US Airways Preferred Status Qualification Ideas

December 13, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification, Last-Minute Elite Status [...]

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Last-Minute United Premier Status Qualification Ideas

December 12, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification, Last-Minute Elite Status [...]

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Last-Minute Elite Status Qualification Ideas for American Flyers

December 11, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification, Last-Minute United Premier Status [...]

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Travel Tuesday Top 10: Gift Ideas

December 11, 2012

Frequent travelers are often given lucrative gifts from loyalty programs and credit card companies, which they are often allowed to transfer to other people. So this holiday season, don’t think you have to run to the closest crowded mall for a cookie cutter gift- you may be able to go shopping right from your frequent [...]

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3,000 US Airways Preferred Qualifying Miles and Two Free Months for Club Membership

December 10, 2012

I received an email today from US Airways offering 3,000 Preferred Qualifying Miles (elite-qualifying) for joining or renewing your club membership from now through Thursday, December 13, 2012. That’s right – the offer is only good for 4 days. Back in November, US Airways was actually offering 5,000 PQM’s and discounts on membership fees for [...]

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Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification

December 10, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute Elite Status Qualification Ideas for American Flyers, Last-Minute United [...]

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Comparing Top-Tier Hotel Elite Status

December 7, 2012

To follow up on my post from yesterday about whether or not going for Hyatt Diamond status is worth it, I asked TPG contributor Nick to write up a comparison of the top-tier status levels at the major hotel chains both as a primer to folks new to this game as well as a reminder [...]

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My Thoughts on Mattress Running To Requalify For Hyatt Diamond Status

December 6, 2012

Scrambling to achieve or maintain elite status isn’t just limited to airlines. Hotel elite status can be just as important to keep, so many people (myself included) are finding themselves trying to eke out enough stays, nightS or spend to retain status. As with airline status, it is important to evaluate the cost of achieving [...]

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Hilton Increases Elite Qualification Requirements

December 3, 2012

Over the weekend, Hilton HHonors surreptitiously increased the number of stays, nights and base points needed to qualify for its elite status tiers. The increase only seems to effect the  Hilton Gold and Hilton Diamond elite tiers. If you’re just going for Hilton HHonors Silver status, the good news is you will still only need 4 [...]

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My Virgin America Gold Status Begins… Now What?

December 3, 2012

Last month, Virgin America started offering elite flyers of American and United the chance to status match to the two elite tiers of its own Elevate points program. Though I don’t really think I’ll switch to Virgin America because their routes network isn’t extensive enough for me, I figured I might as well take advantage [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Getting Last Minute United Elite Qualifying Segments

December 2, 2012

I’m a big fan of the word “thrice” so I decided to select Novik’s question this week! “I fly from Newark to Boston thrice a month and started doing so since September. I am 24 elite qualifying segments short of silver status and was wondering if there is any way I can earn the segments [...]

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Buy Delta Elite Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) Until December 31

November 15, 2012

Now through December 31, 2012, Delta is selling Medallion Qualifying Miles. You may buy up to 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that will post to your 2012 MQM balance and apply toward 2013 Medallion status (2012 qualification) and should post to your SkyMiles account within 24 hours. The prices for the MQM’s are: 2,500 MQMs for $395 5,000 MQMs for $595 [...]

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Virgin America Elevate Program Offers Status Match/ Challenge Program

November 14, 2012

Virgin America launched its Elevate elite status program back in July, and now it’s offering members the chance to status match. Between now and April 30, 2013, qualifying elite level flyers from United Airlines and American Airlines’ frequent flyer programs will be able to request matched status to Virgin America’s Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver [...]

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Travel Tuesday Top 10: Tips on Securing 2013 Airline Elite Status

November 13, 2012

As the year draws to an end many people scramble to bank as many elite miles as possible to secure their 2013 status before airlines reset elite qualification miles to 0 on January 1. Here are 10 quick tips to help ensure that you won’t be left without coveted elite status for next year: 1. [...]

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