I finally once again earned oneworld Emerald status, and I’m really happy about that. Let me provide some background, and then I’ll share how I’m thinking about status with American going forward.
Why did I give up on Executive Platinum status? It actually wasn’t due to anything American did wrong, and not due to any desire to not fly with the airline. Instead, I just don’t think airline elite status is worth as much as it used to be. Going back a decade, Executive Platinums cleared upgrades on a vast majority of flights, while nowadays, clearing upgrades is extremely difficult, as airlines do a much better job monetizing premium cabin seats. This is true across the “big three” carriers. So I always do what I can to secure first class in advance, and that often means I’m redeeming miles for my flights (which don’t count toward status with AAdvantage).
The other thing to keep in mind is that I make a point of flying as many airlines as possible, mainly because I like to review as many experiences as I can. So while American is the most convenient airline when living in Miami, I’m not one of these brand loyal people who insists on flying “their” airline all across the world.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
