

Because the solar units on 2022, I am gearing up for an additional 12 months of journey in 2023.
This 12 months, I went in opposition to my July recommendation and certified for a number of new statuses — most lately, American Airways Platinum Professional, due to the present Hyatt elite standing match. Airways like United will revert to their pre-pandemic necessities, making it far more costly to qualify for the standing.
With a number of new statuses, it is not sensible for me to qualify subsequent 12 months for all of the statuses I presently maintain, so I’ve made some tough selections about which statuses to retain, downgrade and half methods with.
Hopefully, my 2023 standing plans will help you make related selections.
United MileagePlus: Requalify for Premier 1K
Since first qualifying for the standing for the 2016 membership 12 months, United Airways Premier 1K is what I’ve lengthy thought of my standing crown jewel.
This 12 months, upgrades have been sparse, however PlusPoints, lesser-known advantages like a complimentary Clear membership and a telephone line that seldom has a wait larger than 5 minutes imply that I am going to prioritize requalifying for Premier 1K standing.
Qualifying for Premier 1K appears to be like fairly totally different from what it did seven years in the past. These days, MileagePlus members earn Premier standing by way of Premier Qualifying Factors (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). At a primary degree, on United-issued tickets, you earn 1 PQP per greenback spent on base airfare and carrier-imposed price(s), and 1 PQF for every takeoff.
For 2023, United is bringing again its pre-pandemic standing necessities, requiring Premier 1K members to earn 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs. Alternatively, Premier 1K members can earn standing with 24,000 PQPs with no PQF requirement. For those who go and not using a flight phase requirement, you will need to cough up round $25,000 to qualify for Premier 1K in 2023.
Subsequent 12 months, I am going to earn the majority of my PQPs utilizing “the very best stored secret” to qualify for United standing — Star Alliance partner-issued tickets that I am going to credit score to my MileagePlus account. Slightly than incomes PQPs on the worth of your ticket, partner-issued flights earn PQPs on three standards:
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- Flight distance.
- Fare class.
- Working airline.
If you wish to earn a number of PQPs on associate flights, I recommend in search of the next:
- An excellent deal (one thing that might earn greater than 1 PQP per greenback).
- An extended flight distance (since partner-issued tickets earn by flight distance).
- A premium fare (since premium financial system, business- and first-class tickets typically earn considerably extra PQPs than discounted financial system fares).
- A most well-liked associate fare (i.e., Air Canada or ANA, since most well-liked associate fares earn PQP by the flight distance divided by 5 relatively than commonplace companions, which earn PQP by the flight distance divided by six and have greater phase maximums).
Additionally, as an present Premier 1K member, I am going to begin the brand new 12 months with 2,500 PQPs (one of many few silver linings when United elevated standing necessities) to assist me requalify in 2023.
American Airways AAdvantage: Requalify for at the very least Platinum
There isn’t any understating American Airways’ Loyalty Factors’ impact on AAdvantage standing. Now, AAdvantage members accrue status-earning Loyalty Factors by way of cobranded bank card spending, the airline’s procuring portal and elites double dipping on Hyatt stays, to call just a few. AAdvantage additionally gained TPG’s Innovation Awards within the loyalty class this 12 months.
I obtained sucked into the Loyalty Factors recreation earlier this 12 months and certified for AAdvantage Platinum Professional standing in November, due to a standing match promotion with Hyatt. I am set to earn 42,000 Loyalty Factors in March, extending my Platinum Professional standing by way of July 28, 2023, (the top of the second section of my Immediate Standing Move).
Just like United, I am primarily incomes Loyalty factors by way of partner-issued tickets. This is what I am going to earn as a Platinum Professional member on a March British Airways marketed and operated multi-city itinerary:
- San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR): I fare with 150% mileage credit score, 12,345 Loyalty Factors.
- LHR to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO): J fare with 250% mileage credit score, 2,968 Loyalty Factors.
- Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB) to LHR: I fare with 150% mileage credit score, 7,869 Loyalty Factors.
- LHR to SFO: I-fare with 150% mileage credit score, 12,345 Loyalty Factors.
This one itinerary will earn over 35,000 Loyalty Factors and AAdvantage miles (value round $62) alone.
Whereas it is unlikely that I am going to earn one other 42,000 Loyalty Factors in phases 2 and three to additional lengthen my Platinum Professional standing, I ought to have the ability to earn 75,000 Loyalty Factors by Feb. 29, 2024. Doing so will earn me Platinum standing, with advantages like Fundamental Cabin Additional on American flights, premium class upgrades on Alaska, two checked luggage and Oneworld Sapphire.
My favourite good thing about Oneworld Sapphire is the power to order most well-liked or pre-reserved seating on all associate flights. Airways like British Airways typically cost to order seats, even in enterprise class, and Oneworld Sapphire is a perfect solution to keep away from these pesky charges.
Associated: What’s American Airways’ elite standing value?
World of Hyatt: Requalify for Globalist standing
Though I did not even be part of the World of Hyatt program till 2020, Hyatt Globalist has turn into my favourite lodge standing. Because of this, I am going to earn the 60 elite qualifying nights required for Globalist in 2023.
By putting standing at Hyatt accommodations whereas school dorms had been closed, I earned 1,000,000 World of Hyatt factors. With Globalist standing, my factors have turn into considerably extra beneficial.
I’ve grown to like the quite a few perks resembling a correct day by day breakfast for all registered room company, suite upgrades, milestone bonuses, membership lounge entry, waived resort charges and assured 4 p.m. late checkouts. In any case, it is no secret that Hyatt Globalist is a fan favourite at TPG.
Whereas Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (the 2 different lodge chains I maintain top-tier standing with) have totally pivoted to dynamic pricing, I admire the predictability of World of Hyatt’s award charts. Hyatt’s award charts allowed me to make use of simply 5,000 factors per evening to remain on the Class 1 beachfront Hyatt Regency Bali earlier this 12 months to remain in a collection promoting for greater than $300.
Hyatt additionally has developed a status for providing beneficiant promotions, together with Bonus Journeys, which has allowed World of Hyatt members to earn double factors for qualifying 2022 stays.
I am going to earn 5 qualifying nights for holding the World of Hyatt Credit score Card and two additional qualifying nights for each $5,000 I spend on the cardboard. That can assist get me to the 60 elite nights required for Globalist.
Additionally, World of Hyatt and American elite standing complement each other properly. As the 2 journey suppliers have a detailed partnership, elite members from each packages can double dip. For every base greenback you spend at a Hyatt property, you earn one Loyalty Level and AAdvantage mile. Conversely, you earn one World of Hyatt level for every base greenback you spend on American Airways’ marketed and operated flights.
Associated: 5 straightforward methods to qualify for Hyatt Globalist standing
Marriott Bonvoy: Goodbye, Ambassador Elite
I additionally earned 5,000,000 Marriott factors and Marriott’s Ambassador Elite standing by putting college students in accommodations through the pandemic. Whereas the opposite manufacturers cannot match Marriott’s expansive portfolio of accommodations worldwide, I do not suppose Ambassador Elite standing is value it.
Ambassador Elite gives simply two advantages that Titanium Elite standing does not provide: Your24 (a solution to entry a lodge room for twenty-four hours) and the devoted Ambassador Service workforce.
Marriott is making Ambassador Elite standing costlier in 2023 by growing the annual spending requirement from $20,000 to $23,000. The 100-night elite requirement stays unchanged. Marriott has introduced that non-public ambassador customer support brokers will return someday in early 2023.
Platinum and Titanium Elite standing gives beneficial perks like elevated award earnings, a assured 4 p.m. late checkout, suite upgrades, lounge entry, annual alternative advantages and complimentary breakfast at most Marriott manufacturers.
If I haven’t got sufficient Marriott Bonvoy elite nights by the top of subsequent 12 months, I am going to think about opening the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Categorical® Card.
The Sensible card comes with computerized Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite qualifying nights that might assist me get nearer to Titanium Elite. That stated, I am contemplating the potential of pivoting away from Marriott with the instability of Marriott’s award charts; plus, since Hyatt’s Globalist standing has arguably much better perks (significantly concerning waived charges) than Marriott Platinum or Titanium Elite.
Associated: What’s Marriott Bonvoy elite standing value?
Different statuses I am going to earn
Along with the statuses talked about above, I additionally worth the opposite tiers that I get pleasure from, together with:
- Hilton Honors Diamond: Preserve as a cardmember perk of the Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card. Hilton Honors Diamond standing gives perks like a meals and beverage credit score on home stays or breakfast overseas, room upgrades (although Hilton is more and more charging for what must be complimentary room upgrades), membership lounge entry and late checkouts.
- Nationwide Automobile Rental Govt Elite: Preserve by way of a standing match from United Premier 1K. My Nationwide Govt Elite standing allowed me to hire a $100,000 BMW 7 Collection for $3 a day in October. On paid leases, I’ve routinely loved European luxurious automobiles for the worth of a midsized sedan.
- MGM Rewards Gold: Preserve as a good thing about the World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards partnership. MGM Gold gives waived resort and valet parking charges at most MGM properties.
- Hertz President’s Circle, Avis President’s Membership and Europcar Elite: Preserve by way of standing matches with United Airways Premier 1K. Although nowhere close to as beneficial as Nationwide Govt Elite, Hertz, Avis and Europcar standing will help get automotive upgrades and price waivers, significantly when renting overseas.
Associated: The entire information to automotive rental elite standing matches
Backside line
Whereas it is not possible to requalify for all of the statuses I presently maintain, I’ve rigorously thought of which packages have given me essentially the most worth. With out query, United Premier 1K, Hyatt Globalist and Nationwide Govt Elite have made my travels far more fulfilling.
One 12 months in the past, I’d have prioritized Marriott standing, however like many TPG readers, I do not like what Marriott dynamic pricing has finished to my hard-earned factors. In any case, many former Class 8 Marriott accommodations are actually over 100,000 factors per evening when the Park Hyatt down the road is 25,000 factors per evening, providing a greater elite breakfast and waived parking charges on award stays.
We understand it may be tough to strategize elite statuses earlier than 2023 has even began, however now is an efficient time to develop plans within the new 12 months. For those who’re like me, you have already began looking for discounted alliance associate flights that earn greater than you’ll in your airline’s personal flights.
Most significantly, revisit your elite statuses, and devise a plan now. For those who follow your plan, hopefully, you will qualify to your focused standing with out mileage and mattress runs.