Free agency is the hottest airline elite status of the year 2023.
An athlete is free to play for any team in the future as long as they aren't under a contract with a particular team. This may be a good way to plan your air travel next year.
Not boarding early, not getting fancy seats in the front of the plane, and possibly not getting a free checked bag are some of the perks of free agency.
You can take your next flight with any airline you choose, and you won't feel beholden to a particular airline, especially when you're less likely to get status perks.
With so many passengers eligible for an upgrade, maybe you're tired of the hassle and let downs that come with not being upgraded. Maybe you want to try something new. You might not want to work toward airline elite status in the future.
Everyone seems to be elite. Maybe it doesn't seem like that at all.
Nick Ewen posted in our workplace chat that his Delta Air Lines flight had 58 people on it's upgrade list.
There were 12 seats in first class, 15 seats in Comfort+, and 22 seats in the main cabin on his plane. Roughly 50% of the people on that flight had some level of status or upgrade eligibility from a credit card, such as the Delta Skymiles® Reserve American Express Card. elite members who traveled with family members are not eligible for upgrade
Fifty-eight people are trying to get upgraded into just 27 seats between first class and premium economy. Nick's flight isn't the only one.
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Airline elite status is still worth it?
My Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status gives me complimentary United Airlines premier silver status.
My home airport is John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, and I have not received a single upgrade on my flights this year. I assume I won't get an upgrade and won't check the app.
I was listed on the upgrade list for one or two seats in first class. There is no reason to get my hopes up when there are so many people with higher status than me.
All of these elite members came from somewhere.
They weren't all upgraded by having the right credit card. Airlines have had to come up with ways to keep travelers coming back.
Many airlines made elite status qualification simpler. It was easy to attain Medallion status if you could meet the Qualification Dollar requirement or spend enough for a credit card waiver.
Can a loyalty program have too many elites?
Due to the extra mid-tier and top-tier elite flyers, earning status will be harder next year. There is no need for Delta to create more elite flyers this year. Planes haven't gotten bigger despite the fact that there are more top-tier flyers. More people are trying to get on the upgrade list.
You aren't alone if you feel like you don't get upgraded often and are wondering if the effort is still worth it.
It may seem strange that a company with so many guides on how to qualify for airline elite status would tell you not to. There is a way to madness.
Travelers who obtained elite status with an airline feel stuck. Once they've earned this status, they need to fly with that airline or its partners to get the benefits of status: early boarding, upgrades, extra snacks or drinks, lounge access, etc.
If the airline with which you have status is not the best for your trip, what should you do?
If I wanted to fly from John Wayne Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, I would need a connection somewhere along the way. Direct flights are not an option. I could fly with American Airlines on a daily nonstop flight, but I would have to sacrifice some of my benefits when I fly on United.
Is your status more important than your time? Many travelers describe it as a hamster wheel that they cannot get off.
Someone with no elite status would fly the way you would. The person would pick flights based on the shortest route to their destination. The airlines wouldn't matter.
Your chances of being upgraded are not as good as they used to be. How many of the perks you have earned through elite status are you enjoying now?
It's time for free agency if your answer is less than before. You can either book the cheapest flight or the fastest flight.
There is a reason that I harped on upgrades a few times. Enhancements to preferred seats or first class cabins are some of the main draws of airline status, but there are other benefits as well. Even if you don't keep your status, you can still keep a lot of them.
Is it possible that you're losing elite status? You can still get the perks you want.
Priority boarding and free checked bags are offered by many airlines. If you want to maintain these benefits, consider getting a credit card with a low annual fee.
Credit cards can give you free checked bags.
Credit cards can be used to maintain access to airport lounges. You can get access to the American Airlines Admirals Club and the United Club lounges with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard and United Club Infinite Card.
Lounge access should also be expanded if you aren't only confined to one airline anymore. If you have a credit card that can give you access to Priority Pass or Centurion lounges, you can fly that day.
If you're trying to get a first- or business-class seat, it's a good idea to pay with cash or miles. There's no need to wait for confirmation of upgrade space. You can book what you want before you go to the airport.
This is the reason I'm not booking it.
Rather than the end-of-year hustle required to complete your final flights and requalify for elite status, consider which benefits you will actually enjoy next year and whether you can receive them without a mileage run When it's time to plan your next trip, you might want to put a piece of plastic in your wallet.
Not everyone will receive an upgrade on their next flight due to the number of elite flyers. If you have points and miles, you can use them to book yourself into first class or business class, avoiding the question of whether you'll get a space- available upgrade on your flight.
I reserve one of the fancy seats if I use extra miles. That way there's no guessing. Free agency is where it is going to be for the next five years.
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