I too surely think, it IS worth it!

 

I haven't made 1K yet, so I can't tell you about the difference b/t 1K and PremExec. But when I was PremExec I got many more last minute upgrades than when I was a lowly Prem. The only one I missed was to/from Hawaii when the entire front cabin was PremExec or 1K.

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"If you want to win the game, write the rules."

 

Will have to agree about the "perks" of being an elite, but have to say I've enjoyed 1 year of being a Silver on NW than 3 years as Premier on UA. I've had 100% luck on NW this year (I really have no joke!) compared to less than 10 upgrades on UA in 3 years. Plus NW began a "no-cert" policy this year, so if the seats are available, I can get them. It's been a big plus on the trans-con flights I've had this summer.

Charles

 

Not trying to start anything but...

This doesn't help me or anyone else interested in this topic at all, without valid backings. Everyone else has provided various examples of how top-tier has saved them or how they think mid-tier is fine.

I beg all not to say something unless it is helpful or relevant.

 

I can only speak for UA as that is the only US carrier that flies to SYD. Others above have summed it up well. The HUGE difference to me as I live at the "end" of the route network is the 6 x Systemwides that 1K's get, (12 this year due to a loophole it seems if you first qualify and fly 100,000 miles this year as I will do by next flight)

TWO of these certs cover upgrading way in advance on a 31,150 mile flight roundtrip AUST-USA-GERMANY-USA-AUST such as this one I make to the DUS "Altbier" fest next week. Twelve upgrades like THAT is quite a difference from Premier Executive (Gold )level and to me that one difference is worth about $12,000-$15,000 VERY conservatively.

http://www.chicago.com/cgi-bin/gc?PA...OR=&MAP-STYLE=




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~ Glen ~

 

I think the answer depends on what you want and what you need.

I wanted to become a top-tier flyer because I was going on lots of international trips for work, and I didn't want to sit in coach.

Now that my company policy is changing so that they pay for transoceanic business class, the whole top-tier thing is becoming less attractive to me.

 

As being a UA 1K for the past three years, I feel quite fortunate having been upgraded operationally or with confirmed upgrades on every single transoceanic flight. Even with upgrades, I often got seat assignments with my next seat empty! The concierges and FAs have always been very accommodating, though there have been several noteworthy exceptions. On domestic transcon flights, I often get my favorite single seat with more recline and much more legspace in 767s. Only time I did not get upgraded was on a couple of domestic flights during this past summer of chaos.

With respect to CO, where I am a Platinum,
I get upgraded 100% in North America. Internationally too, I have always been able to upgrade using miles. ( CO does not offer international upgrade certificates. )

What is also exceptional about the very top-tier status is that when redeeming award trips, it sure makes a lot of difference.

I am trying to become AA Platinum by the end of the year and am looking forward to see what AA's elite status is going to be like.

I have been very careful in arranging my trips this year in order to achieve top-elite status on these three carriers. As much as I travel, I need to sit in front and rest well while in the air, as not all of my trips will be full-fare business class.

 

Kaoru. Are you ever on the ground? How many flown miles do you guess you will do in 2000?

 

Ozstamps,

I will easily top 200,000 miles this year. Add to this a couple of transpacific and intra-asia award flights, I am not going to even begin my additons.

Although UA only gives 1K with actual flying miles or 100 segments, American and Continental credits business/first class bonus miles towards achieving their respective elite status. This makes a very noteworthy difference. I just found out that AA even credits its elite bonus miles on some other OW carriers such as CX; this, in effect, enables me to achieve AA Platinum with much more ease than actually flying 50,000 miles. ( Even though, I am now trying to get AA Platinum status comped so that my requirement would even get lower for next year!)

I normally achieve my 1K status by flying just over 100,000 *A carrier miles, when there is no further benefits to be received by being 2K. ( In fact, one of the NRT concierges recently reprimanded me of being a promiscuous flyer, having seen my handsome steel One Pass Platinum tag attached to my carry-on. I simply said to her, if UA was going to give me 12 Systemwides, I would be happy to just stick to them with a smile. )

I prefer to fly Continental in N. America and Mexico with their extensive and convinient schedules out of EWR and their unlimited UG opportunities. But I would never fly their narrow-bodies on transcons.
Yet their BF products is far superior to C class of UA. IMHO.

Yes, Oz, I am on the ground alot. I think it is alot harder to achieve top-tier status by segments what with all their airport transfers and connections, etc and my hats off to fellow FTers who do so. I think you might find out that a quick long-haul intercontinental flights actually reduces the chance of jet-lags on your upcoming DUS run. Do let me know...

I must admit though that I love flying but never imagined that I would be doing so this much. That's why I treasure seating comforts and wonderful lounge facilities as much as the convenient schedules and upgrade opportunities, thereby the importance of the top-tier elite status on several carriers.

Finally, where do all my miles go? I am happy to give premium class trip gifts to my family.



[This message has been edited by Kaoru Kanetaka (edited 10-29-2000).]

 

Speaking only about UA, for me there is a world or difference in UA Prem Exec and UA 1K. I've bounced back and forth between both for the past several years and to me the difference is huge. I fly mostly shuttle, so the free upgrades are a great benefit. Higher priority for waitlist is also a lifesaver as I am constantly changing my return flight by a few hours. Shorter check in lines are great as are the 1K rooms (especially Denver!!). True, I don't get upgraded as often as most people seem to but I frequently fly on crowded routes without much advance booking, so I typically miss out on the 100 hour confirmed upgrade advantage. Overall, 1K status noticibly reduces my stress level - it makes it so easy to just roll with the weather, delays, cancellations, etc. UA takes pretty good care of me.

 

My wife is mid teir on US and I am top teir. The treatment difference can be night and day -- though it comes down they are much more polite when they say no to me.

In the bigger scheme of things I'm beginning to give up on being elite -- it's just not worth the hassle

 

I fly enough to get top-tier status on American, Delta, and US Airways.

American and Delta are earned via miles, while US Airways is earned via 100 segments (mostly US Airways Shuttle service). I say that top-tier status is in general worth it. I don't fly my three airlines exclusively as much to earn status as I do because I really like flying them. Personally, I'd rather connect on my preferred airlines than a nonstop on another. But status does play a huge roll in this.

Domestically, I like upgrades, and US Airways, Delta, and American all have lots of them available to top-tiers. On applicable fares, it is relatively rare for a top-tier to be seated in coach. This isn't true in my experience with United or others. Internationally, I fly Business Class. Delta's BusinessElite business class is great, and I fly AA First Class using a mileage upgrade.

I fly US Airways pretty much all domestically, and they're very good. I like their US Airways Shuttle product. And I think I've been treated very well as a top-tier flyer.

There are tricks to get more status for your money. The main one I utilize is the double-dip deal between American and US Airways Shuttle. About 1/4 of my AA miles come from this deal. But, unfortunately, it only lasts through the end of this year, and it might now be renewed.

I might switch to United, but not right now. The THAI mileage run sounds appealing, and if the merger occurs, UA will be very big in my home airport.

 

I have top tier with three airlines (and therefore 3 alliances) Delta (Plat), BA (Gold) and BD (Gold) (Skyteam, One World and Star Alliance).

Until quite recently, I could have sung the praises of DL Platinum. It was far superior to Gold and Silver in many ways, not least of all upgrades, lounge access, and the general treatment that I got from DL employees. They really went the extra mile for Plats, somewhat more than they did for Gold and quite a lot more than for Silver. Upgrades were great, and it was truly a superior program. Unfortunately with the SWU changes that have been announced as well as some attitude (not to mention personnel changes at DL) this status seems to quickly be losing its lustre. As for Skyteam, although it is new, my only experiences have been with AF whose employees couldn't seem to care less about your status (i.e. I've been refused access to Af's lounges, even when showing written proof that I coulkd use them, and have had loud arguments with "line ushers" at CDG who insist that I must get out of the Business/First line when checking in).

BA's program is poor. As a silver you could use lounges, but they didn't care much about me. As a Gold, they don't seem to care anymore than they did when I was silver. I will say however that Iberia and Cathay seem to treat me better with my BA credentials than BA itself.

BD, really treats both its Silvers and Golds quite well. They seem respectful, and most importantly, seem to nactually bump people off flights to get you on. Supposedly they are good with upgrades on a Space available basis, but I haven't had the chance to experience it yet. As for Star Alliance, apart from a few LH flighs I have yet to test how respected their credentials are with other carriers.

 

Is "top tier" over=rated ? No, if anything under-rated. Overall, it makes for considerably less stressful flying. Upgrades are what it's about, and here's why: more comfortable seating; less crowded, hectic boarding; top coat and jacket are hung up rather than stuffed in the overhead bin, allowing you to arrive relatively neat; better chance of making connections when you don't have to wait 20 minutes for your row to exit the plane; quicker, more responsive service when there's a delay or problem (if nothing else, you are first in line at the re-booking counter); more fleixibility on the part of agents in changing flights, bending rules on occasion; more comfort and a drink when you are waiting an extended time on the tarmac.

I have experienced each of these advantages at one time or another as a platinum for more than ten years on Northwest. They made flying tolerable as flying itself became more crowded, hectic and stressful over the last decade. Upgrades allowed me to arrive relatively sane and unstressed, and fresh for the work waiting at the destination. Were I to do it all over again, I would value top tier status even more highly than I did, and take it far less for granted.

 

Being a DL Gold, allow me to say that the only benefit I really saw was waitlist priority for Upgrades (Int'l) was good. I would usually have the 2nd highest and this helped occasionally. But in reality the only reason I flew DL was for their SWU. Now that this is changing, I have started flying United and expect to be 1k by years end.