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i didn't travel as much this year as i normally do, so i am about to lose my statuses on 2 hotels + 2 airlines (platinum level). anyway to extend it WITHOUT paying money?
If one of them is IHG, they're pretty generous about 'partner points' (Virgin Atlantic points transfers, eRewards and e-miles surveys, the dining program, I think) posting as elite-qualifying.
IHG often sent me an offer to extend Platinum with just 3 more stays in 2016 or something like that.
What I also did once was a status match with another (foreign) airline, which was also valid for one more year after match. In that case you do not extend your status but you will get another status from the same alliance and usually the same amenities. You may also want to check flyertalk on that.
OK I can give one trick that may apply -
So many of these programs give you a boatload of points if you get there affiliated credit card when you first sign up. For Delta it's a Delta/AMEX credit card (the card does have an annual fee however). For me this bonus on joining was enough to get to the next level.
Now, also for Delta besides the joining bonus you can spend so many dollars on a card and also get points that apply to membership and may be the difference in getting to the next level. You can only spend so much on a card for retail purposes of course in day to day activities. The key here is how you churn money on these cards for big ticket purchases like your mortgage or car payments. Normally these financial companies will not accept payment by credit card. But there are 3rd party services (Plastiq is one company) that you can pay and they will cut a check to the mortgage company. They will usually require a fee for this service, maybe 2% or 3%, so just to get additional frequent flyer miles it probably is not worth it. But...if it makes the difference between the next level it may be worth it. For bumping Delta from Gold to Plat level it might be the difference between getting your 1st class upgrades on all your next year flights.
I've booked a cheap flight roundtrip in a day to keep status before. Flew about 100 miles each way just to get the segments. And did a one night hotel stay to keep current. But I was really close and that was all it took. May be worth investigating..or call them and see what they can offer.
I've booked a cheap flight roundtrip in a day to keep status before. Flew about 100 miles each way just to get the segments. And did a one night hotel stay to keep current. But I was really close and that was all it took. May be worth investigating..or call them and see what they can offer.
Ahhhh mileage runs. I used to see those talked about in FlyerTalk Forum - people finding cheap flights to like Singapore and flying them up and back just for the miles...no stop off, just getting off plane and hopping back on. Talk about gluttons for punishment. But I am not sure they really work anymore as Delta works on combined mileage based on price of ticket and total dollars spent, and all major airlines have adapted this revenue based formula.
Ahhhh mileage runs. I used to see those talked about in FlyerTalk Forum - people finding cheap flights to like Singapore and flying them up and back just for the miles...no stop off, just getting off plane and hopping back on. Talk about gluttons for punishment. But I am not sure they really work anymore as Delta works on combined mileage based on price of ticket and total dollars spent, and all major airlines have adapted this revenue based formula.
I think that while the miles you accrue are less, the segments or MQM's or whatever the airline calls them tend to count the old way.
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