http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/travel/30prac.html Frequent Fliers Worry: Is Elite Status Worth It? By JOE SHARKEY January 30, 2005 ... As a consequence, many high-level fliers are rethinking their commitment to attaining elite status each year. On most airlines, there are three elite-status levels: Platinum (for those who fly 75,000 or on some airlines 100,000 miles a year); Gold (50,000 annual miles), and Silver (25,000 miles). So strong is the pull to retain elite-level status that some members actually take unnecessary and often complicated year-end trips, called mileage runs, just to rack up enough miles to hit the annual mark. "Usually, I get toward the end of the year and I think, is it worth it?" said Mark Schubin, a television engineering consultant who has been a member of American Airlines' AAdvantage mileage program since 1981, when American was the first to introduce frequent-flier programs. A main reason he kept going for elite status each year, said Mr. Schubin, was that elite-level fliers often receive free upgrades for their travel companions as well. The upgrades "let me take my wife along in first class" on vacations and other leisure trips, he said. That has become far more difficult to accomplish, he added. ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.