Just when I thought 2020 was the weirdest travel year I’d ever see, 2021 did everything it could to rival it. Our family took a sharp left-hand turn during the pandemic and bought an RV. We spent a fair amount of 2020 camping, a completely different way to travel. That bled into 2021, though as the year turned to spring and summer I got back on the road for work again. 2021 had moments of “normal” but they were mostly defined as the “new normal“. Airline schedules were geared towards […]
Airline Elite Status
It Looks Like I’m Chasing Delta Diamond Status Without Getting On An Airplane
It’s been another one of those whirlwind months where nothing happens the way I planned it. Plenty to catch you folks up on in the near future, but until then we’ve had something of an interesting development in the elite status world. First, a bit of background. My Road Warrior History, In Brief I started traveling for work back in 2000, with a lull for a few years, then in earnest starting in 2007. Since then, I regularly clocked 100,000 miles on airplanes each and every year, pandemic years excluded. […]
Whoa: American Airlines Is Treating Executive Platinum Members Like It’s 2007
What a long, strange trip it’s been. American Airlines is treating some of their best customers like they did a long time ago. The airline industry has been through so much the past 20 years. I traveled a bit here and there for work in the 90s. I never really traveled enough to earn elite status until 2000, and then started chasing status in earnest in the wake of 9/11 as business travel returned. Leading up to 9/11 my father was a road warrior who traveled almost exclusively with TWA. […]
I’m Actually Pretty Excited About My Frontier Status Match
After almost 9 months of no air travel and no plans to get on a plane anytime soon, the moments where I’m truly excited about travel have been few and far between. In fact, most this year have involved renting RVs and ultimately buying an RV and a pickup truck (more on that in future stories). You might find it odd for me to be talking about a Frontier Airlines status match, especially since I’m normally on one of the big 3 domestic carriers. Frontier Airlines is actually an airline […]
WIN: I’m Giving Away Aeroplan Elite Status
Psst, hey! Aeroplan dropped some hints on the podcast today about a potential change to the new program that you might really like. Oh, and I’ve got a pretty awesome prize I’m giving away.
United Airlines Reduces Elite Qualification Requirements. Will American and Delta Follow?
United has given us a bit more of the picture as it relates to elite status qualification requirements. They’ve made significant reductions for folks looking to qualify for a higher elite level and plan to make more changes for 2021. They also will be announcing a path to earn status easier through credit card spending.
United Airlines Extending Elite Status To 2022
United Airlines announced they were extending elite status for all elite members through January, 2022. They also announced extension of memberships and subscriptions like United Club and EconomyPlus.
Delta Extends Elite Status And Other Benefits
Delta is the first major airline to announced an extension of elite status and related benefits due to the coronavirus crisis. They won’t be the last. The move is all positive and I expect United and American to follow suit shortly. I also expect incentives to travel later in the year if the public health situation allows for it.
2019 Airline Status Review And A Look Towards 2020
I had a healthy diet of United Airlines in 2019, which isn’t good for my blood pressure. What does 2020 look like for you? Here’s what I’m expecting….
It’s Business, American Airlines
A recent status challenge I considered with American Airlines reminds me how much has changed over the years.
