The Upsides To Losing Elite Status

For the first time in more than a decade, I’ll enter next year with almost no elite status, but there are upsides to that too. 

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Limited Business Travel, Opportunities, and Focus

The last year has involved far less business travel for me for a few reasons. The world has absolutely changed and while I support in-person meetings, sales calls, and events, sometimes customers are less willing to make time to meet in person. Instead of being able to conveniently and predictably meet at their office, workers are stationed at home, making lunch meetings an awkward affair.

For me personally, I partner in a couple of businesses and watch my expenses closely. The costs of travel this year have been very, very high even without factoring in inflation that seeps into the periphery of business travel like meals, entertainment, and in-town transportation. It’s incredibly difficult to justify (to myself or to my partner) thousands of dollars for meetings that used to cost a few hundred dollars especially when clients, staff, and partners are completely willing to meet for free on a video conference – loathed as they may be.

Further, my waning status with United Airlines and mixed experience with Delta on a trial this year left me jumping between carriers for important flights, taking Spirit on flights to Florida, and spreading myself too thin to maintain with one carrier.

Hotels too haven’t been as concentrated due to availability and costs.

First Time In a Decade Without Status (almost)

For the first time in more than a decade, I will have no status on major international carriers when the calendar resets in January and I do not intend to try for it before then. Just a few years ago I held both American Airlines Executive Platinum status (earned for about half a decade and then granted for one additional year as a Hyatt Globalist) and United 1k at the same time. During some of that overlap period, I also held Spirit Gold status.

For hotels, immediately prior to the pandemic I held Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, and Hilton Diamond. At the turn of the year I will likely only hold Explorist with Hyatt and Hilton Diamond (unearned) as a benefit from my current Diamond status:

“Diamond status extension

Enjoy an extra year of Diamond perks with a one-time extension. Available when you have been a Diamond Member for 3 years and stayed 250 lifetime nights or earned 500,000 Base Points.” – Hilton

I assume I am eligible for that perk based on my years as a Diamond but I haven’t requested it yet and don’t know if I will receive it because status has been extended via COVID for so many years.

Regardless, I’m not that worried about it.

What Are The Upsides of Losing Status

Could there be upsides to losing status? Absolutely, and chiefly among them is the ability to be a free agent. I was a long-time loyal American Airlines Aadvantage member but felt freed when I left and moved to United. Most of that…