The simple paths many airways and inns laid down through the top of the COVID-19 pandemic are actually lengthy gone. In truth, Delta Air Lines is making it even more durable than it was pre-pandemic to attain its coveted Delta Diamond standing with enormous spending necessities.
I now not have expedited methods to get to top-tier Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta or Hyatt standing, however that does not imply I’m giving up on elite standing. It’s simply gotten trickier this yr.
My elite standing journey has been erratic, to say the least, over the previous a number of years. I’ve accomplished a number of standing challenges, gotten some large wins and been compelled to chop my losses in a couple of applications.
Hopefully, you can create your individual path ahead, and perhaps my journey can train you a couple of issues too.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Dropped to Gold and giving up for subsequent yr
Alaska Mileage Plan has been my go-to elite standing for the previous a number of years, however that is coming to an finish.
When I first began at The Points Guy in 2019, I signed up for a standing problem that bought me to MVP Gold 75K and that stored me on the standing hamster wheel with Alaska for the previous a number of years. I moved to Montana through the pandemic, and that Alaska standing bought fairly a exercise, together with touring to a brand new nation when Alaska launched service to Belize.
Related: How and why I went for Alaska’s new top-tier MVP Gold 100K standing
I even earned Alaska’s new top-tier MVP Gold 100K when it was unveiled in 2021.
MVP Gold 100K members are given two worldwide one-way improve certificates to make use of on American Airlines, and I used to be in a position to make use of one in every of mine to improve an American Airlines flight from Paris to New York. These upgrades are much like American’s in style systemwide upgrades.
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Related: Everything you could find out about Alaska’s partnership with Oneworld
Alaska has as many as 5 day by day flights to its hub in Seattle from my then-home airport in Bozeman, Montana, which actually ramped up my Alaska flying.
But all good issues should come to an finish. A transfer again to New York City final yr made flying Alaska harder than after I was in Big Sky Country.
I’ve additionally been fairly dissatisfied with current modifications to this system. It’s more durable and more durable to seek out business-class seats for worldwide journey on Alaska companions, which makes spending my greater than 400,000 Alaska miles irritating. Alaska instituted dynamic pricing on some awards, and they’re now usually costlier than reserving with different applications.
Alaska has additionally reduce incomes charges on companions like Cathay Pacific and dropped useful companions like Emirates over time.
Related: Big modifications coming to Alaska bank cards
My ardour for the Alaska program has cooled since 2019, so I’m saying goodbye to pursuing elite standing with Alaska this yr.
American Airlines AAdvantage: Platinum Pro standing problem activated
I held AAdvantage Executive Platinum standing for a few years, however in 2018, American began making it tougher (and costly) to attain top-tier standing.
That’s after I determined to attempt a couple of new applications. I did standing challenges for each Delta and Alaska, and I largely stopped flying with American. Still, I managed to hit Platinum Pro in 2019 and that standing was then prolonged for a number of years throughout COVID-19. My Platinum Pro standing lastly expired on the finish of January 2022, although, and I dropped to the dreaded “member” standing.
But one thing fascinating occurred throughout that interval. Alaska and American grew to become Oneworld companions, and since I had top-tier Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K, I ended up with standing when flying American. I even wrote about how I’d been upgraded a ton as an Alaska elite member flying on American Airlines.
So, flying Alaska despatched me again into the arms of American AAdvantage.
Related: What is American Airlines elite standing price?
Fast ahead to 2022 and I wasn’t in a position to requalify for Alaska MVP Gold 100K, dropping down two ranges to MVP Gold. But then, American did one thing to lure me again into the Oneworld fold.
American unveiled a brand new “Instant Status Pass” which granted me Platinum Pro standing till the tip of March with the chance to increase it via July 28 if I earn 42,000 Loyalty Points by March 28. So far, I’ve already earned 23,471 Loyalty Points. I ought to be capable to maintain the standing with a couple of extra journeys I’ve booked earlier than the tip of March. If I earn a complete of 67,000 Loyalty Points by then, I might even get boosted to Executive Platinum.
One factor American bought proper — not less than for this shopper — is luring me again to the AAdvantage program! I’m already booked on American Airlines flights to Georgetown, Guyana; Los Angeles; Miami; Paris; and San Andres Island in Colombia.
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles: Going for Diamond
I’ve been coasting as a Delta Platinum member ever since I did a standing problem again in 2019. You can join a Delta Air Lines standing problem right here.
My timing was nice. I’ve managed to carry on to that standing degree since Delta made it simpler to maintain standing and to requalify through the pandemic.
I ended 2022 with a whopping 191,152 Medallion Qualification Miles, due to rollovers. That would have been sufficient to get me Delta Diamond standing earlier than it added an onerous spending requirement of $15,000 again in 2020 and raised it once more this yr.
My whole spending for 2022 was $6,816. That’s not even near sufficient to get Platinum, not to mention Diamond.
The solely purpose I made it to Platinum is that I spent a ton on my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card which provides a Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver as much as Platinum standing in the event you spend greater than $25,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr. The $550 annual payment is steep (see charges and charges), however usually price it for these chasing standing.
Related: Why I’m holding my Delta Reserve card even when I’m flying much less
The excellent news about not qualifying for Diamond is that I rolled over a lot of my MQMs into 2023. Delta routinely rolls over MQMs you earn above your earned standing tier. So in the event you finish the yr with 100,000 MQMs and qualify for Platinum (which requires 75,000 MQMs), you will begin the following yr with 25,000 MQMs.
I ended up getting greater than 116,000 Delta rollover MQMs. That means if I spend $25,000 on my Reserve card once more, I’ll get Platinum outright. The required variety of MQMs for Diamond is 125,000, so I’ll simply get the MQMs I would like (simply 9,000 as of now).
Of course, the issue is the whopping 20,000 MQDs required to earn standing. And to make issues worse, the MQD waiver for Diamond requires an enormous $250,000 in spending on a Delta card! That’s a “no” for me.
I might attempt to determine a solution to fly sufficient to attain that MQD requirement via tickets bought on companion airways. In truth, I’m about to board a KLM flight in enterprise class to Bangkok. I’ll credit score that flight to Delta for elevated MQDs.
Still, I’m undecided I’ll be capable to make it to Delta Diamond even with companion MQD runs. Regardless, it is going to be enjoyable looking for out!
World of Hyatt: Dropping to Explorist
I’ve been loving Globalist standing after an unimaginable provide on the finish of 2020 to get World of Hyatt Globalist standing via 2023, however sadly, simple road is now closed.
There had been no large shortcuts to Globalist over the previous yr, and I could not get to 60 nights at Hyatt inns.
Related: How a profitable standing problem rekindled my love affair with Hyatt
I used to be in a position to earn my solution to Explorist, which is nice, however I’ll now not get these candy suite improve certificates that I used to be in a position to make use of for a set on the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. I’m going to overlook the assured 4 p.m. late checkout, free breakfast and higher improve odds, too.
I’ll maintain each my World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card so I can nonetheless get 10 elite nights every year towards standing, however I’m going to overlook Globalist.
Since factors switch from Chase Ultimate Rewards, although, I can simply get extra Hyatt factors regardless that I will not be incomes fairly as many as I’d if I had been nonetheless Globalist.
Related: What is World of Hyatt elite standing price?
And I’m nonetheless having fun with Hyatt Globalist standing for a couple of extra weeks. In truth, I used to be simply upgraded to a set on the Hyatt Regency Toronto final week. I wager these upgrades are fewer and farther between later this yr, however I nonetheless will discover a number of worth in being Hyatt Explorist. Who is aware of, perhaps it is going to provide one other quick observe to standing sooner or later sooner or later.
Hilton Honors: Diamond ceaselessly
This is the simplest of my top-tier standing achievements. While I solely stayed at Hiltons 4 occasions final yr, I nonetheless have this system’s highest standing degree — Diamond. So how did I handle that? Simple: It’s a perk of holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Related: What is Hilton elite standing price?
The card comes with Hilton Diamond standing for so long as you have got the cardboard. While the cardboard has a hefty annual payment of $450 (see charges and charges), there are different useful inclusions comparable to a $250 annual Hilton resort credit score, a $250 airline credit score yearly and a free weekend night time once you open the account and every year in your card anniversary.
The data for the Hilton Aspire Amex Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Related: How to decide on the most effective Hilton bank card for you
I’ve now had Hilton Diamond standing since 2020.
Related: Why Hilton’s prime card has me switching my loyalty
While I actually have had some good stays at Hilton properties, together with the gorgeous Conrad Bora Bora Nui, a couple of have been not so nice.
I’ve been in a position to make use of the airline payment credit, however I did not get to make use of the $250 resort credit score final yr. D’oh!
I have never gotten many upgrades at Hilton properties, and it isn’t as rewarding as Hyatt Globalist, however I’ll maintain the Aspire card and my Diamond standing for 2023 regardless that I’ve no Hilton stays presently on the calendar.
Marriott Bonvoy: Platinum by way of bank cards
I’d been very content material with Marriott Bonvoy Gold for the previous a number of years courtesy of The Platinum Card® from American Express, which provides standing in a number of resort applications, together with Marriott.
Then got here 2022, and the shock from American Express that holders of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card would get Platinum standing for so long as they maintain the cardboard. I utilized for the cardboard, and I’m now Platinum. That was an sudden deal with.
I solely stayed at a couple of Marriott inns in 2022, however the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit and the Sheraton in Tel Aviv had been beautiful.
I will not exit of my solution to keep at Marriott properties this yr, however I’ve a number of journeys booked, together with an enormous redemption in Guyana. Having Platinum standing will make these stays higher with advantages like assured late checkout, lounge entry and complimentary breakfast at many Marriott manufacturers.
Related: Guide to Gold standing with Marriott and Hilton by way of your American Express Platinum
Even although a lot of our favourite Marriott Bonvoy properties now value extra factors on account of dynamic pricing, I nonetheless discover that Bonvoy factors turn out to be useful.
There’s no manner I’ll be capable to do the extra 25 nights with Marriott to unlock Titanium in 2023. In truth, I do not suppose I’m going to have the ability to even get to 50 nights, although the thought of opening the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is intriguing.
For now, I’ll maintain the Brilliant card open and revel in Platinum standing with out worrying about what number of nights I would like to remain.
IHG One Rewards: Platinum by way of bank card
I ended up with an enormous quantity of stays at InterContinental properties in 2022, together with the gorgeous Six Senses Shaharut, the InterContinental David Tel Aviv and a keep on the Hotel Indigo Detroit Downtown utilizing a free night time certificates.
That wasn’t sufficient to qualify for Platinum standing with IHG One Rewards, however that is OK … I maintain it just by advantage of holding the IHG Rewards Club Select card (now not open to new candidates).
The card features a handful of good perks (comparable to a fourth night time free on award stays and higher bonus classes), however better of all it offers you Platinum standing and a free night time award to make use of at lower-category properties.
Related: A evaluate of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
I used mine the primary yr I had the cardboard in Singapore, and I had an unimaginable keep at the Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman again in 2021.
The data for the IHG Rewards Club Select card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Related: Automatic Platinum status with the IHG Premier Card
The new model of the cardboard is the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, which additionally will get you Platinum standing — however take note the annual free night time award is capped at properties costing 40,000 factors or much less an evening. The annual payment is $99.
I will not be going for Diamond Elite standing, which will get you free breakfast and early check-in, as a result of I’d want to remain 70 nights to make that occur.
Instead, I’ll maintain my IHG card for standing (and a free night time) this yr. I’m additionally sitting on a pleasant stash of factors. Let’s see what unfolds this yr, however I do not plan on any IHG stays up to now.
Bottom line
I used to be fairly unhappy on the finish of 2022 after I realized I used to be going to lose my top-tier standing with Alaska and would drop right down to Explorist with World of Hyatt, however a standing problem with American that can maintain me a Platinum Pro, computerized Diamond standing with Hilton and the distant risk of top-tier Delta Diamond standing this yr have me extra excited than I assumed I’d be in January 2023.
I’ll have enjoyable making an attempt to maintain up with Delta and American, and I’ll perform a little extra exploration of Hilton and Marriott since I’ve been targeted fairly completely on Hyatt prior to now few years.
I’m trying ahead to being extra of a free agent in 2023 — and you’ll make certain I’ll be reporting again with what I discover out.
For charges and charges of the Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card, click on right here.