How to Get Elite Travel Perks Without Traveling Every Week or Overpaying

Summary

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways – Episode Summary: "How to Get Elite Travel Perks Without Traveling Every Week or Overpaying"

Release Date: March 5, 2025

Hosts Sally French and Megan Coyle from NerdWallet Travel delve into the intricacies of achieving elite travel status without the need for excessive travel or exorbitant spending. This episode provides listeners with actionable insights, practical strategies, and critical evaluations of elite status benefits across airlines and hotel programs.

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1. Introduction

Sally and Megan kick off the episode with a casual conversation about Megan’s upcoming wedding travels and her attainment of elite status on American Airlines. They set the stage for a deep dive into whether elite status is genuinely beneficial for the average traveler or if it's an overrated pursuit.

Notable Quote:

• Sally French [00:25]: “Southwest. I thought I was a Southwest Stan here.”

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2. Travel News Highlights

a. Southwest Flights Now on Expedia ([01:17] – [02:17])

• Overview: Southwest Airlines flights have become available for booking on Expedia and its associated platforms like Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz, and CheapTickets.
• Significance: This marks a significant change, as previously Southwest flights weren't accessible via online travel agencies (OTAs) or Google Flights, limiting comparison shopping for travelers.
• Insight: Increased accessibility on OTAs allows travelers to make more informed decisions and potentially secure cheaper flights.

Notable Quote:

• Megan Coyle [01:40]: “Remember when Southwest flights didn't even show up in Google flights? Oof.”

b. Hyatt’s Annual Award Category Changes ([02:17] – [04:03])

• Details: Hyatt has adjusted its award categories, making 33 properties cheaper to book with points while 118 properties are now more expensive.
• Benefits: Clearer planning due to fixed point requirements, especially beneficial for specific events like weddings.
• Opportunity: There's still time before March 25th to lock in lower redemption rates, with the possibility of refunds if rates decrease after booking.

Notable Quote:

• Sally French [04:03]: “So maybe we should plan that Tokyo trip and book it now before March 25th.”

c. American Airlines Elite Status Year Starts in March ([04:56] – [05:39])

• Change: American Airlines resets its elite status year starting March 1st, extending the period to earn loyalty points until February 2026.
• Implication: Provides more time for travelers to achieve elite status, aligning with the episode's main theme.

Notable Quote:

• Megan Coyle [05:02]: “So let's just reset the clock over the weekend.”

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3. Elite Status Overview

a. Understanding Airline Elite Status ([07:10] – [11:02])

• Common Misconception: Elite status is often perceived as attainable only by frequent travelers or "road warriors."
• Reality Check: Sally shares her lack of airline elite status, challenging the notion that it's unattainable for the average traveler.
• Personal Experience: Megan holds American Airlines Gold status through a combination of flying and strategic credit card spending.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [09:15]: “I actually recommend many travelers don't try to overexert themselves to get elite status on an airline.”
• Megan Coyle [10:27]: “Having credit cards that grant status, you can get upgrades and perks without crazy spending.”

b. Benefits vs. Requirements ([11:02] – [15:54])

• Airline Perks: Priority check-in, free checked bags, preferred seating, and occasional seat upgrades.
• Limitations: Lower-tier statuses like Gold offer minimal benefits compared to higher tiers, often making elite perks rare and not worth the effort.
• Upgrade Reality: Upgrades are typically reserved for higher-tier members, making them infrequent for those with lower statuses.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [12:30]: “With just the card, I got to board in group five and also get a free checked bag.”
• Megan Coyle [15:34]: “These are seats, like closer to the front of the main cabin. Even a main cabin extra seat with more leg room.”

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4. Hotel Elite Status

a. Different Hotel Programs ([16:20] – [20:57])

• Hilton Honors:

  • Diamond Status: Achieved via the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card, offers free upgrades, food and beverage credits, late checkout, and an annual free night.
  • Gold Status: Accessible through additional credit cards, provides room upgrades, daily food and beverage credits, and late checkout.

• Marriott Bonvoy:

  • Gold Status: Offers room upgrades and late checkout but lacks complimentary breakfast unless reaching Platinum Elite status.

• Hyatt:

  • Discoverist Status: Minimal perks like free water bottles, late checkout, and occasional room upgrades.
  • World of Hyatt Card: Grants free night certificates and automatic higher status levels.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [16:38]: “I have Hilton diamond status... I got an annual free night reward.”
• Megan Coyle [19:24]: “I love hash browns. Like loaded hash browns are an immediate order for me.”

b. Benefits through Credit Cards ([16:56] – [21:17])

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: $550 annual fee, automatic Diamond status, and substantial perks.
• Amex Platinum Card: $695 annual fee, includes lounge access and complimentary hotel elite statuses with Hilton and Marriott.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [16:56]: “This card, you get an annual free night certificate. It's good every year at any hotel up to a Category 4.”

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5. Strategies to Earn Elite Status

a. Using Credit Cards ([21:17] – [22:33])

• Leveraging Co-Branded Cards: Many airlines and hotels offer elite status through credit card spending and benefits.
• Annual Free Nights: Maximizing free night rewards to offset card fees and obtain premium bookings.

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Coyle [21:33]: “I would look for promotions like the Built Rewards program has done a few promotions in the past where you get a 90 day trial period of elite status.”

b. Promotions and Trials ([22:02] – [22:33])

• Trial Periods: Opportunities to experience elite status benefits for a limited time, encouraging continued engagement and spending.
• Double Elite Credits: Special promotions allowing double points or credits during specific periods, enhancing status earning potential.

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Coyle [22:02]: “It’s really cool because then you can like do this challenge and try to keep it for the rest of the year.”

c. Status Matching ([22:33] – [23:45])

• Definition: Utilizing existing elite status with one program to gain similar status with another, often requiring additional qualifications like spending or stays.
• Partnerships: Some airlines and hotels offer mutual benefits, enhancing the value of existing elite statuses.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [22:33]: “Status matching is another one. If you have one type of elite status, often you can use that to match status with another airline or hotel for a limited period.”

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6. Hot Take: Is Elite Status Worth It? ([23:56] – [25:47])

Sally and Megan share their critical perspectives on elite status, arguing that for many travelers, the pursuit can be more trouble than it's worth. They emphasize the importance of evaluating whether the benefits align with individual travel habits and spending capacities.

Key Points:

• Accessibility: Elite status is attainable without excessive travel through strategic credit card use and participation in promotions.
• Value Assessment: If achieving elite status requires disproportionate effort relative to the benefits, it may not be worthwhile.
• Practical Benefits: Free checked bags, preferred seating, and room upgrades can enhance travel experiences without necessitating full elite status.

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Coyle [23:58]: “If it's not easy for you to earn elite status, you probably don't need it.”
• Sally French [24:11]: “If you're not even traveling that much anyway, then you won't even get the benefits of having elite status.”

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7. Conclusion

Sally and Megan wrap up the episode by reiterating that elite status isn't a one-size-fits-all benefit. They encourage listeners to assess their travel patterns and make strategic decisions to maximize perks without overextending financially or logistically.

Final Thoughts:

• Balance: Achieving a balance between spending, travel frequency, and desired benefits is crucial.
• Smart Utilization: Leveraging credit cards and promotional offers can provide significant value without the need for relentless traveling.
• Personal Preference: Ultimately, the decision to pursue elite status should align with individual travel needs and financial situations.

Notable Quote:

• Sally French [25:39]: “Wow. I see you there. Good. Good deal.”

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Additional Resources

Listeners are encouraged to visit the NerdWallet website for detailed articles on:

• Best Airline Elite Status Programs for 2025
• Credit Cards that Grant Automatic Elite Status
• Travel Budgeting Tools and Strategies

Contact and Engagement:

• Email: listeners can share their elite status stories or upgrade experiences via email at [e-mail].
• Follow Us: Stay updated by subscribing on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or iHeartRadio.

Disclaimer: Sally and Megan remind listeners that they are not financial or investment advisors. The information provided is for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to individual circumstances.

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Produced by: Hilary Georgie and Tess Vaglin
Fact-Checking: Claire Soci
Editing: NerdWallet’s editorial team

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If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Smart Travel on your preferred podcast platform to never miss out on the latest tips and strategies to upgrade your travel experiences.

Transcript

[Sally French]

Megan, I know you have a lot of weddings to travel to this year. My question for you is, will you have elite status in time?

[Megan Coyle]

Yes. I actually already earned my lead status for this year, and I'm already using it for wedding travel. I just got back from the first bachelorette party over the weekend in Austin, and I flew American Airlines on the way there, which is the one I have elite status in, but Southwest on the way back.

[Sally French]

Southwest. I thought I was a Southwest Stan here.

[Megan Coyle]

Well, you know, sometimes the flights are more convenient on Southwest, and I could fly to a smaller airport and take the same flight and the same Uber home as my friends. So, listeners, do as I do and build a healthy relationship with your elite status, not a toxic one.

[Sally French]

And you know what? I say I have no problem cheating on an airline with Southwest.

[Megan Coyle]

Welcome to Smart Travel, a deep dive into the tips, tools, and tactics to maximize your travel dollars.

[Sally French]

I'm Sally French.

[Megan Coyle]

And I'm Megan Coyle.

[Sally French]

And we're the travel nerds ready to help you plan your next big trip.

[Megan Coyle]

Today we're talking about whether elite status is actually worth it.

[Sally French]

But first, let's take a look at some of the news in travel this week.

[Megan Coyle]

And just a heads up, in this episode, we'll talk about a few credit card companies that are nerd wallet partners, but that doesn't influence how we discuss them. All right, let's dive into the news.

[Sally French]

Well, speaking of Southwest, our first news item is that Southwest flights are now available to book on Expedia. That's as of last week. This is huge because it's the first time that Southwest flights are showing up in some search results in an online travel agency, which we call an OTA. It's also showing up in in some Expedia owned OTAs like Travelocity, Hotwire, orbits, and cheap tickets.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, remember when Southwest flights didn't even show up in Google flights? Oof.

[Sally French]

I know, dark times.

[Megan Coyle]

That was tough. But that all changed in May of last year. And I'm so glad they got the technology working for that.

[Sally French]

So glad. Anytime you can do more comparison shopping, that just means that travelers like us can make more informed decisions and of course, book cheaper flights.

[Megan Coyle]

Just remember, booking with OTAs like Expedia does sometimes add some complexity to your travel. Like if you need to change or cancel your reservation, you'll have to deal deal with that middleman. At least on flights, though, you will still be able to earn Southwest points if you book a Southwest flight through an ota. That's not the case for hotels and it's usually better to just book directly for your hotel stays.

[Sally French]

In other hotel news, Hyatt just announced its annual award category changes. Around this time of year, Hyatt will typically adjust the award category that some of its properties fall into. So low award categories cost less points per night, and high award categories cost more points per night.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. Hyatt has this great award chart that lays out the peak, off peak, and standard points you'll need for each category. Most hotels have gotten rid of their award charts, and they now use dynamic pricing. So it's really hard to estimate how many points you might need for a night. It depends on demand and all sorts of things, but Hyatt actually tells you how many points you're gonna need.

[Sally French]

This is really nice because it just makes it so much easier to plan in advance. You know how many points each hotel is going to cost. Another nice thing about Hyatt is that they actually do this courtesy of telling you when they are going to change the category of their properties. So we know which categories are changing now, but that won't kick in until later. Of course, the bad news is that although 33 properties are getting cheaper, 118 are actually going to get more expensive when you book on points.

[Megan Coyle]

Womp, womp. Yeah, I know. This happens every year. Usually most hotels are moving up a category, and especially this year, lots of Japan properties are moving up a category. They're getting more expensive to book on points, probably because the interest in Japan travel is still so high.

[Sally French]

I know. I feel like everyone I know is in Japan right now.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, I'm glad I went way earlier. I went a few years ago. I'm like, all right, I'm good for a few years.

[Sally French]

Yeah. But there is some good news here. For example, I love the ability to plan in advance. One of my best friends from third grade is getting married in Napa this fall. So I was actually happy to see one of Hyatt's properties, the Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa, is going down from a category six to a category five. I know you have tons of wedding travel yourself, and I'm excited that this will make my wedding travel a little cheaper. That Property goes from 25,000 to 20,000 points per night.

[Megan Coyle]

The other bright spot here is that these changes aren't going into effect until March 25th, so you still have some time to lock in those lower redemption rates before it officially goes up. And you also don't have to wait to book the ones that are going down in price. You could book those now. And if the redemption rate goes down, you'll actually get a refund of the points difference.

[Sally French]

Well, maybe we should plan that Tokyo trip and book it now before March 25th.

[Megan Coyle]

Another one before March 25th. It would be good if you could book any hotels that are going from category four to a category five if you still will have a free night reward on your World of Hyatt credit card. Because the World of Hyatt credit card comes with a free night reward. That's only good on hotels up to category four. So if you're planning on booking any of those that are moving to a 5 this year, book it before March 25th.

[Sally French]

We'll link to the Nerd Wallet story with the list of effective properties so you can see which properties you should book now before prices go up.

[Megan Coyle]

And finally, March 1st is actually the start of the year for American Airlines flyers like myself.

[Sally French]

I guess better late than never.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, you know, I'm okay with starting the year in March. My 2025 was off to a rough start. So let's just, you know, reset the clock over the weekend.

[Sally French]

Okay. Let's declare that 2025 actually starts in March, American Airlines style.

[Megan Coyle]

So now you have until February 2026 next year to earn the number of loyalty points you'll need to earn elite status on American Airlines. This is actually so timely because we're going to talk about elite status today.

[Sally French]

Now, I know you're a huge American Airlines fan. Are you going to try to earn elite status again this year?

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, I've got to admit, I'm a little bit attached.

[Sally French]

Oh, healthy relationships though. I know.

[Megan Coyle]

It is. It is. Well, luckily there are a few ways to start earning those points. One would be by applying for the City a Advantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard. It has a higher signup bonus at the time we're recording this episode of 75,000American Airlines miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first four months of account opening. And the annual fee is $99, but it's waived for the first 12 months. So it's a great way to check it out and see if this card is for you.

[Sally French]

I do want to point out that a advantage miles are not the same as loyalty points. You can use those 75,000 miles to book flights, but not to earn status because you can't actually earn loyalty points from the sign up Bonus. But every $1 you spend on the card does earn one loyalty point. So you spend the $3,500 to meet the spending threshold and you will already have 3,500 points for the year, and.

[Megan Coyle]

You'Ll be able to keep earning loyalty points on the spending that you do on that card all year. I should mention that American Airlines is also doing a promotion right now to earn 500 additional loyalty points for each flight segment you take in March, up to 5,000 loyalty points in total. So make sure you register for that in your AAdvantage account to earn those if you have any flights this month.

[Sally French]

Okay, great tips and great transition. Because in this episode, we are talking about both airline and hotel elite status and whether it's actually worth trying to get them. That's coming up in a moment, so stay with us.

[Megan Coyle]

Everyone assumes that the only way to earn elite status with airlines and hotels is by traveling all the time. Being that person who flies multiple times a week or spends more time living in a hotel than their actual house.

[Sally French]

You know, I totally thought that was the case before I got into travel. I would look at these requirements to earn elite status off of flying alone, and I was like, who is actually getting this unless they work in a job that forces them to fly every week? Even. Even getting something like that measly silver status felt completely unattainable.

[Megan Coyle]

But as you'll learn from today's episode, that's hardly the case. You don't have to be a road warrior and stay 50 nights in hotels.

[Sally French]

And I will say for myself, I know better now. I actually have hotel elite status in three different programs.

[Megan Coyle]

And based on the number of videos I see you posting at the gym, I know you're not actually spending that many nights away from home.

[Sally French]

You are correct, Megan. I definitely spend way more time in the gym than in any hotel room. Yet, weirdly, I do not have any elite status in the gym.

[Megan Coyle]

Weird. You should. Biceps definitely correlates with gym elite status.

[Sally French]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, now I have two types of hotel elite statuses, and I think we might have some overlap. So I'm excited to go into some of the different strategies people might not know about.

[Sally French]

And since we are slightly cynical about this, we'll dive into the situations where elite status is actually not all it's cracked up to be.

[Megan Coyle]

So before we get started, we should mention that we're going to talk about some specific terms and benefits and offers available on certain credit cards. But these can change, so make sure you check a credit card's current offer before you go applying for anything, especially.

[Sally French]

Future people who are listening to this way far away from now. Of course, these offers can always change. Another thing to mention Is that we will be talking about a few credit cards from companies that are nerd wallet partners. I just want to let you know, the lawyers make me say this, but that does not influence how you and I, Megan, discuss them. Okay, so should we dive in?

[Megan Coyle]

Let's do it. Starting with elite status on airlines. Back in the old days, you would have had to fly a lot to get airline elite status. Like every week, a lot.

[Sally French]

Okay, so I'm just gonna get this out of the way off the bat. I do not have any sort of airline elite status and it is for a good reason. That probably will apply to a lot of people listening to this.

[Megan Coyle]

We're not even at the hot take part of the episode yet, Sal.

[Sally French]

No, no, no, I promise. This is actually a common take. I actually recommend many travelers don't try to overexert themselves to get elite status on an. For me, I just book whatever is the best deal, the best flight time. Whether that's Southwest, Alaska, Delta, I do not care. Even some random budget airline that I found on Google flights. And Megan, I will let you know, I am not above flying Spirit or Frontier.

[Megan Coyle]

Well, you make a good point. And it's that there are some trade offs for loyalty and elite status can handcuff you to only flying with that airline.

[Sally French]

Yes, handcuffed is it? Exactly. That is why these elite status programs exist. And I am serious. I see people who will book the more expensive flight just to get something like a free drink and free wifi. A small chance that they get a seat upgrade. They're conveniently forgetting that it would still just be cheaper to buy that champagne on their own with not even having elite status.

[Megan Coyle]

I need to meet these people because you definitely should not be doing any of this for a free drink.

[Sally French]

I'm serious. My sister's like, I'm only going to fly United because I might get a seat upgrade. I have United silver status.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, we'll get into this. But I also kind of feel that way, so.

[Sally French]

Yeah, no, it's real.

[Megan Coyle]

So I have American Airlines gold status. And I'm not married to it though. Like if I find a cheaper flight or something that's like more convenient, less layovers, whatever, I'll book that other airline. But if American does offer some comparable options, I'll get some super valuable perks. I love those free preferred seats and even the occasional upgrade to business class.

[Sally French]

I want to know, do you actually get upgraded? And I don't want this podcast to be all about me and my non status. So since you do say you Have American status. Let's talk about it. And then we'll get into some other airlines, maybe on a future episode.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, so our team at NerdWallet wrote about some of the best airline elite statuses for 2025. And we can link to that in the show notes so you guys can check it out. The most important thing to know about airline elite status in general is that there is a big range. Like the lower tier lead statuses might get you like $10 worth of benefits, like those free drinks you were talking about. And top tier statuses can be worth thousands of dollars. They could be worth over $4,000 if you have the very, very top status.

[Sally French]

Yes. But it even seems so hard to get those low tier statuses. And then it's like, yes, I got like my one free drink that was worth $10. So, Megan, tell me, how did you get elite status? Because I actually don't think you're traveling that much on American Airlines. Right.

[Megan Coyle]

I get it partly from flying, but also partly from credit card spending.

[Sally French]

Okay, that makes sense. And this is an important strategy that most people don. Many airlines, including American, Delta and United, let you earn elite status not just by flying, but by spending on a co branded credit card.

[Megan Coyle]

Yep. So for American Airlines, you have to earn loyalty points to earn elite status, and you earn them through flying, spending with their partners, shopping through the online portal, or spending on an American Airlines credit card. I hit gold status through a combination of sort of all of those taking some American flights and also some flights on their partners, like their One World alliance partner, Alaska Airlines.

[Sally French]

Yes. That's nice.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. And putting a lot of my regular spending on my American Airlines card.

[Sally French]

Okay, so gold status with American is pretty good. It gets you free upgrades when available. Of course, priority check in, slightly better boarding, if you care about that.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, let's not oversell it. Like with elite status, I get to boarding group four and I get a free checked bag. But I've had my American Airlines card for years, like even before I ever earned elite status. And with just the card, I got to board in group five and also get a free checked bag. That is one way to go about getting, you know, some perks on the airline.

[Sally French]

Okay. I'm rarely a checked bag person, but I know there are many people who are. And it's perks like that where the free checked bags really do add up. You look at American Airlines checked bag fees for flights within the US are $40 at the counter, $35 if you pay online in advance. So at least there Is some money.

[Megan Coyle]

Savings there and like maybe some other luggage benefits on some programs. United Airlines is the one I'm thinking of. They actually let elite members bring heavier bags for free as well. So instead of that 50 pound weight limit for checked bags, if you have elite status on United, you can bring a checked bag up to £70.

[Sally French]

Cool. I can bring my dumbbells.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, gosh. I feel really bad for the luggage handlers. So I do want to like point out that I do have gold, which is the lowest elite status tier.

[Sally French]

Bottom of the barrel, Megan. The lowest of the low.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, I know. And it takes a lot, it really does, to get to Platinum, Platinum Pro, any of the fancy tiers. I will say with gold status, I am eligible for upgrades, but all those people that have the higher statuses, they get priority.

[Sally French]

Right.

[Megan Coyle]

So they will get upgraded to business class first along with their companions, which, like, feels so unfair sometimes.

[Sally French]

Totally. Totally. The upgrades go first to the people with the highest amount of status. So even if you're gold, it's not guaranteed you're an upgrade. Especially if you have all the platinums, the executive platinums in front of you.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. And I'll be honest, I get upgraded probably twice a year.

[Sally French]

Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

One is usually some random long flight and I'm like, wow, this is amazing. This is such a lifesaver. It always comes in right when I need it. Like it's a red eye or something. And then the other upgrade I usually get once a year is like on a one hour flight to San Francisco.

[Sally French]

Yep.

[Megan Coyle]

So you get this big seat, but you're like, I literally, I don't need to sleep. I don't really get any good food.

[Sally French]

They can't even pass out the champagne because they're like, the flight is too short. We can't even do in flight service.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sally French]

Basically, the TLDR is if you have a lower status, like on American, that could be something like gold. It does technically come with free upgrades, but since platinum and above get the priority, just keep in mind, even upgrades are quite rare, even if you have that lower status tier.

[Megan Coyle]

And that's the case with any airline, like, not just American. This happens on every single one.

[Sally French]

Right. I think you are proving my point, Megan. This is why I don't try that hard to even chase elite status anyway. Because sometimes elite status gives you nice perks. Early boarding, checked bag fees, if that's something that you do is check bags. But the real perks, like that first class upgrade are doled out to the people with the highest elite Status levels first. So sadly, in your case, Megan, gold status is good, but not great.

[Megan Coyle]

I do want to point out one kind of underrated perk though, of elite.

[Sally French]

Status, and that's sell me.

[Megan Coyle]

You get to pick some of the preferred seats when you're booking for free.

[Sally French]

Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

These are seats, like closer to the front of the main cabin. Even a main cabin extra seat with more leg room. It depends on your level of status. Like for me, I get to pick those extra legroom seats if there are any available 24 hours before departure.

[Sally French]

Do you care about legroom? I know you're also part of Club Petite like me.

[Megan Coyle]

I don't. I actually don't. But it does pay to be friends with me because, you know, my boyfriend gets like the extra legroom seats and he loves it.

[Sally French]

Okay. The tall people care.

[Megan Coyle]

All right. Airline elite status. You know, overall, it has some perks. And if you value things like those checked bags or the extra legroom, then it might pay off for you. Okay, let's move on to hotel elite status. Another one we have written about on NerdWallet.

[Sally French]

Yes. So I'm kind of an airline elite status hater, but I have elite status in three hotel programs. And I know you mentioned that at the top of the segment that you have elite status in two.

[Megan Coyle]

And as is the case with airlines, you did not have to spend a bajillion nights to earn this elite status.

[Sally French]

Absolutely right. Okay, so my best level of elite status that I have is holding Hilton diamond status, as you said. I did not get this by spending a million nights at Hilton's. I got it from holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card. This is Hilton's most premium card. It has an annual fee of $550.

[Megan Coyle]

And it gives you automatic diamond status, the top tier.

[Sally French]

I'm the top tier. That's exactly right. So with diamond status, you get free upgrades, food and beverage credits, plus some other nice to haves like late checkout with the card. The real benefit is that you get an annual free night reward.

[Megan Coyle]

And I know you use that free night reward. And also got an upgrade at the Conrad at Punta De Mita. Said that.

[Sally French]

Right?

[Megan Coyle]

We talked about that last episode. Right?

[Sally French]

It was. So go back and listen to that. If you didn't hear it already, cash rates were close to $1,000 per night. So that free night reward covers standard rooms, which was still a super good deal. But here's where it gets wild. Because I have this card with automatic diamond status, then you're eligible for room upgrades. So I technically booked, like, the standard room, which was still absurdly nice. But then from there, they upgraded me to a full suite. Had a private pool overlooking the ocean. Unbelievable.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, my gosh. That sounds amazing.

[Sally French]

That is why I would say Hotel Elite Status can be worth it to get this unbelievable experience.

[Megan Coyle]

Yes. For a private pool, I feel like I'd do it. Okay, so what are your other two statuses? I'm guessing those are the ones you have through your AMEX Platinum card.

[Sally French]

Good guess. So you have that card too. So that was an easy, obvious guess. We are talking about the OG premium card. The Amex Platinum card has a $695 annual fee. So I just want to spell is not a card for everyone. But if it is a card for you, know that it comes with lots of fancy perks like lounge access.

[Megan Coyle]

And you can enroll in these complimentary Hotel Elite statuses. So one of them's with Hilton. It's Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold. These are both the second Elite Status levels. And I found that there's still like, plenty of value from that second level. Like the occasional room on a higher floor or with a better view.

[Sally French]

Yeah, especially with Hilton. So I have Hilton diamond status. So I guess it just, like supersedes that. I also have Hilton Gold status through the other card. But even if you just have Hilton Gold Status because you don't want to have two super high annual fee credit cards, I think Hilton Gold Status is super solid. It gives you still options for room upgrades. Kind of like airlines. The priority goes to the diamond people first. But often you can still get it with gold. And then you also get that daily food and beverage credit at most properties. And, you know, I love that.

[Megan Coyle]

If there's one thing I know about you, it's that you love free food.

[Sally French]

Exactly. I love free food. And what I really like about the Hilton food and beverage credit, it's awesome because it's not tied to just breakfast. You can use it at any time of day.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, that's good. Because I'm not really like a breakfast at the hotel type of person.

[Sally French]

Me neither. Although I will have to say there was a time I was at the Art Hotel Denver. It's part of the curio collection by Hilton. I didn't even have time to do dinner, so I was like, whatever. I'll just spend it on the breakfast, get some free food. And I, to this day, am still dreaming about the hash brown casserole. It's beautiful.

[Megan Coyle]

I love hash browns. Like loaded hash browns are an immediate Order for me.

[Sally French]

Agree, agree. Even better when they're.

[Megan Coyle]

Mm.

[Sally French]

Okay, so Hilton does have good free food perks. I will say with Marriott Gold status is kind of meh. They give you some room upgrades, they give you late checkout, but no free breakfast.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, Marriott gold is the definition of cool. I guess you're totally right.

[Sally French]

Do not start getting free breakfast with Marriott until you have Platinum Elite. This is tough to get. You'll have to stay at least 50 nights per year.

[Megan Coyle]

Certainly doable for some of the road warriors, given Marriott's huge worldwide footprint. But that's like neither of us. Sadly, neither of us.

[Sally French]

Okay, so since we're dishing all the status we have, I guess I should also share. I have Hyatt Discoverist status. This came as an automatic benefit with the world of Hyatt credit card. I will say though, having Hyatt Discoverist status is not a flex.

[Megan Coyle]

So what's your gripe with Discoverist?

[Sally French]

Yeah, it's just like the perks are not that sexy. I think the sexiest of their perks is free water bottles.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, but you need those.

[Sally French]

I guess you gotta stay hydrated. Other benefits are like late checkout, sometimes an upgraded room, but even that's pending availability. So basically nothing crazy with this.

[Megan Coyle]

So why do you keep the card then?

[Sally French]

I do actually really like this card. You get an annual free night certificate. It's good every year at any hotel up to a Category 4. Now, the card does have an annual fee of $95, but I say good luck booking any room, period under $95. So I find that the room alone is worth way more than the card's annual fee. That's why I keep it.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, so yeah, it sounds like credit cards are a great way to get automatic elite status. We have an article about all those credit cards ready for you linked up in the show notes. But what are some other tips for people who aren't in the market for a credit card yet? What are some other ways they can get Elite status?

[Sally French]

Yeah, I mean, sometimes you can just buy what you get with Elite status anyway. Like if you want extra legroom seats rather than pledging your allegiance to this airline. Sometimes it's just cheaper to buy it for your round trip flight than it is to go to all this effort to earn Elite status for an entire year.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, that's a good tip. We mentioned it at the top and yeah, it's worth saying again. I would also look for promotions like the Built Rewards program has done a few promotions in the past where you get a 90 day trial period of elite status.

[Sally French]

That's right. Yeah.

[Megan Coyle]

And it's really cool because then you can like do this challenge and try to keep it for the rest of the year. There's also some promotions at hotel programs, for example, where you might be able to get double elite qualifying credits for your stays during a certain promotional period. So for example, like Hyatt1 recently you had to register back in February, but you could earn two elite qualifying night credits for each eligible night you stay at their glamping brand under canvas, but you had to stay during the promotion period.

[Sally French]

I love under Canvas. I did a trip to Yellowstone with my family and we stayed at one right nearby. It was great. I'll give another tip is status matching is another one. If you have one type of elite status, often you can use that to match status with another airline or hotel for a limited period as well. Sometimes it depends on the terms of the status matching program, but sometimes they let you keep the status for the entire year. Typically you have to meet some sort of requirements like a spending requirement or a minimum number of stay requirement.

[Megan Coyle]

Some airlines and hotels even have partnerships so that elite members can have benefits at both. So some of these partnerships are like American and Hyatt or United and Marriott. So we've got some articles about that on the Nerd Wallet website that we'll put in the show Notes.

[Sally French]

Bottom line, elite status can be super valuable. But I think the high level overview is you do not need to be a travel addict to actually get it.

[Megan Coyle]

If you have credit cards that grant status, you can get upgrades and perks without crazy spending. For airline status, you can get it with some credit card spending and some flying or something else.

[Sally French]

And of course, just remember, some statuses are worth way more than others.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, Hilton Gold is better than Marriott Gold from your experience. And it sounds like Hyatt Discoverist is. Ooh, I would say it's better than.

[Sally French]

A poke in the eye, but free.

[Megan Coyle]

Water bottle Sally, I do, I do.

[Sally French]

Love my free stuff.

[Megan Coyle]

All right. And this is the part of the show with hot takes or hot takeoffs.

[Sally French]

Hot takeoffs. This is my favorite part.

[Megan Coyle]

I feel like this whole episode boiled down to the fact that chasing elite status can be overrated for many travelers. But let me make it a little spicier for you. If it's not easy for you to earn elite status, you probably don't need it.

[Sally French]

What would you say is easy?

[Megan Coyle]

If you can meet 80% of the requirements to earn elite status through the travel you already have planned for this Year through the credit cards you have or are planning on getting there this year, then I think being strategic about earning that, like, 20% more of the requirements, that's doable.

[Sally French]

Okay, that's fair.

[Megan Coyle]

But if your normal travel and spending will only get you, like, 50% of the way to elite qualifying points or dollars, then maybe you don't travel enough to get that much use out of it.

[Sally French]

Right? And then it's like, if you're not even traveling that much anyway, then you won't even get the benefits of having elite status. So if you're 80% of the way there, how do you earn the extra 20%?

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, honestly, for my American Airlines status, I try to take advantage of the shopping portal. That's like this online portal. It has a bunch of retailers you've already heard of and you shop at anyway. So in the American Airlines program, you earn the same amount of loyalty points as miles when you shop through the portal.

[Sally French]

Right.

[Megan Coyle]

So whenever I want to buy something, I just go to the portal. Like, recently, I needed contact lenses, so I searched contact lenses, ordered my contact lenses from the portal.

[Sally French]

Nice.

[Megan Coyle]

And I just picked the one that had the most miles per dollar, and I got almost 1500 loyalty points.

[Sally French]

Huh. Not bad.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. And compare that to one of the last flights I took. I got just 96 loyalty points flying to San Francisco from Los Angeles. So I got way more elite status qualifying points by buying contact lenses.

[Sally French]

Wow. I see you there. Good. Good deal.

[Megan Coyle]

And I can see you now that my new contacts have arrived.

[Sally French]

See what we did there?

[Megan Coyle]

Okay. Do you have elite status? Have you scored an awesome upgrade? Let us know, listeners, email [e-mail] or send us a voice memo. You might even hear your voice on the show.

[Sally French]

And if you don't already, please make sure you follow us. Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or iHeartRadio. Make sure you never miss an episode.

[Megan Coyle]

This episode was produced by Hilary Georgie and Tess Vaglin. Claire Soci helped with fact checking. And a big thank you to Nerdwall's editors for all their help.

[Sally French]

And of course, here is our brief disclaimer. We are not financial or investment advisors. This info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes, and it may not apply to you your specific circumstances.

[Megan Coyle]

Thanks for listening. We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller. See you next episode.