Which elite status programs, for travel, are you a member of / would you recommend?
I've hustled, finessed and maintained elite memberships for Hertz (free upgrades and liability) Starwood Hotels (Suite upgrades for the cost of the cheapest room, and 4:00 checkout) and Amtrak (Acela Club lounge access and access to all United Club lounges at airports) for years, but have not been able to make it to any worthwhile airline status since USAir was alive.
2. "Nah, people here have the info." In response to Reply # 1
I remember someone on here explained how non-military folk could join Navy Federal Credit Union, by joining the San Diego chapter of the Naval League Foundation—membership dues are around $30 a year—and grandfathered into that specific location’s charter was elegibility to join the credit union, which worked...up until last May, when I tried to do it.
And someone on here put me onto skiplagged.com, which is now where I book most of my flights, last minute for excellent prices.
3. "I travel a lot, but don't really have shortcut advice" In response to Reply # 0
Cars: National over hertz all day, Emerald Isle, and executive emerald beats anything hertz offers. Was hertz fo 15 years due to company preference, national for last three and would not go back.
Hotels: Marriott, not because the program is better but they are so huge, have so many different concepts and price points that regardless of where you have to go, the smallest town, there will be an option. In terms of bang for buck, Starwood was the move for years, but they got bought by Marriott last year.
Air: unless you travel internationally a lot, it's really tough to become elite. I was Global Services with United a few yeas back and my god that was fantastic. It's the highest tier that's actually not published. But that required 10/12 biz class flights a year to earn, how you actually qualify isn't even published.
Once I took on a domesticlyb focus role a couple of years ago, I'm flying more than ever but those economy domestic flights just don't stretch. I'm scraping just to maintain platinum with Amercan ( who suck, but lots of direct flights from CLT to almost anywhere.)
21. "RE: I travel a lot, but don't really have shortcut advice" In response to Reply # 3
>Cars: National over hertz all day, Emerald Isle, and >executive emerald beats anything hertz offers. Was hertz fo >15 years due to company preference, national for last three >and would not go back. >
Why is National better than Hertz? I rarely rent cars so I'm curious.
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27. "National basically gives automatic upgrades." In response to Reply # 21
You get there and have the option to take any car in the section you want, instead of that Ford Fiesta you reserved, you can grab that Nissan Altima right next instead to it at no extra charge.
Most Hertz airport locations are doing the same thing now, but that's a very recent change.
5. "I have platinum status on Delta." In response to Reply # 0
And I'm Gold with Starwoods/Marriott.
I travel a lot and probably do 5 or so overseas trips/year. Delta's network is pretty big and a lot of my trips are to Europe so I'm able to keep it in network and earn the miles like 90% of the time.
I'm considering doing a status match challenge with American (was considering United but they can go fuck themselves) to get platinum with them as well but it might be too hard to maintain both for next year.
6. "Domestically, do you exclusively fly Delta?" In response to Reply # 5
No matter if there's a better priced option from a comparable airline?
Not having combined SPG and Marriott, are Marriott's perks comparable? For example, if you maintained SPG gold or plat for at least 5 years you keep the status for life.
8. "Mostly, yeah." In response to Reply # 6 Mon Mar-19-18 12:28 PM by soulpsychodelicyde
If there's a price differential, it's usually not *that* much and I tend to justify it with the miles earned/opportunity for upgrade.
>No matter if there's a better priced option from a comparable >airline? > >Not having combined SPG and Marriott, are Marriott's perks >comparable? For example, if you maintained SPG gold or plat >for at least 5 years you keep the status for life.
I haven't used the Marriott Rewards yet to be honest. I'm not a big Marriott fan but was grandfathered into the program when they merged with SPG. ALSO.. Delta and SPG have a partnership so, I believe, you get reciprocal points/rewards if you're Gold or above. Same thing with Lyft.. you earn miles with Delta when you ride Lyft.
ALSO... someone below mentioned Global Entry... can't say this enough. AMEX has a free offering for Platinum card members. Totally worth it even if you have to pay though b/c it comes with TSA Precheck. A friend loves CLEAR but I don't know that I see the value.
9. "TSA Pre is better than CLEAR, and less expensive to join." In response to Reply # 8
Pre's $85 for 5 years vs. CLEAR's $170 per year. Plus CLEAR isn't available at every US airport, while Pre mostly is. Right now I'm not enrolled in Pre, but I still use CLEAR. Though you get bumped to the front of the line and don't have to pull out your ID in CLEAR, I have never seen extensive TSAPre lines to make it worth the additional membership. I've raced traveling companions at check in, the TSAPre lines are always much faster, just slightly faster matched with CLEAR, than CLEAR with the normal line.
its not "elite travel" but if you travel even just a few times a year for work, or family stuff with an occasional vacation, global entry will save you a ton of heart ache.
what is it? Its expedited clearance essentially.
When you go through security you never have to take your shoes off and the lines are hella short.
When you return from traveling abroad you go through a very very short line.
I had a hiccup a few months back where I ended up getting to the airport 15 min before my flight took off.
I was able to jump through security and get to my gate and I still had 8 minutes to just stand around.
17. "not elite status, but i got the chase sapphire card" In response to Reply # 0
i get 2x points on entertainment/travel/meals you can use the points for travel and if you book on your site they give you 25% more points or you can redeem your points for cash or gift cards i am going on a cruise with carnival and they have carnival gc so i was able to get a couple $100 gc and apply it my balance i use this card more than my platnium delta amex its harder get delta flights out of chicago but when i was in ny, i would only fly delta for the benefits of the card
18. "free.99 accommodations here/abroad with couchsurfing.com " In response to Reply # 0 Tue Mar-20-18 12:42 PM by rawsouthpaw
i travel about two months a year internationally on long itineraries and having free places to crash has meant way more in my pockets plus i made some dope friends who put me on to local crackin spots, events, etc. just as important for a reciprocal community - i host people - and as a result have even more options when i hit their countries. i get a parade of requests living in central LA and usually just roll with international artists passing through. there's a really good subreddit too. coverage/background: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/04/16/youre-welcome
i also sublet my apartment, which saves me a ton and i highly recommend if possible.
19. "Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with airport lounge access" In response to Reply # 0 Tue Mar-20-18 12:40 PM by PimpTrickGangstaClik
Those things are nice! (Good)Free food and drinks (beer, wine, and liquor too). Comfy seating areas.
I had a 5 hour layover in Madrid and I wasn't even upset.
That is in addition to Global Entry, TSA Pre-check, a $300 annual travel credit, and 3x points on travel and restaurants. And using points on travel gets you an additional 1.5x.
If you travel with any kind of regularity, I would recommend this card. It has a $450 annual fee. But the $300 travel credit knocks it down to effectively $150.
20. "i travel a massive amount & have yet to do credit rewards" In response to Reply # 19
due to the limitations seemingly needed. reading up on this online and it's compatibility between hotels and airlines for example seems way practical and coherent - thank ya.
25. "Yeah, skiplagged is the best money saver i've found" In response to Reply # 0
i got a flight to london for $175, $40 to paris, and $175 from paris to LAX through skiplagged. i use their app for all my flights, and always find deals.
couchsurfing is great, but i prefer hostels. i paid $15 a night in Capetown for a clean space and met a cool dude from the LA area as well. airbnb is also good, though more expensive.
as for car rentals, i use public transportation, i.e. trains, subways, buses, or occasionally, uber.
26. "RE: Travel Tips - Elite Status Programs" In response to Reply # 0
Err gold and/or platinum status on AA, united and delta Hertz gold but rarely rent...
I just signed up for CLEAR.. not sure if its wortg it yet..
The only purpose in my opinion is convenience in travel (priority through security, keys to car easy)... the different lounges are eeehhhhh
It helps to build miles and get free trips when needed but yea I dunno any shortcuts.. it seems the programs gets worse as the years go by.. miles mean less etc
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28. "For all of the larger airports with CLEAR, it's beneficial for time." In response to Reply # 26
For example, on multiple occasions since this threads been up, CLEAR agents have gone beyond and walked me past all other lines after the 1st TSA checkpoint, to the front of the TSA belt, kind of like what airport workers do. It's definitely getting better with time.
The biometric scan is also good, I lost my drivers license on a trip and was still able to make it home with no ID issues.
Atlanta has been the only city I've found with it, where those very long lines have never been considerably better.
DoubleNegative's tip, for Global Entry is the other time saving move.
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