Attaining or keeping elite tier status is a likely driver for many points earners — and with good reason.
Loyalty with airlines and hotels brings real, tangible perks: upgrades, priority seating, early check-in/late-check-out, elevated service, lounge access, and free checked bags. Those last two translate directly to real-world savings.
But I would be lying if I said it was easy to attain for the average person.
Spending on specific credit cards or flying enough on a carrier or within a airline alliance to meet these elite status thresholds can require a fair amount of mental gymnastics at times.
If you’re gonna play the game, make sure you have a good understanding of what it takes and make sure that the benefits are worth it.
Take time to examine the tiers, understand what each one delivers, and compare that with what’s required to get there. That makes your goals realistic — and helps you set sensible cutoffs so you don’t chase a marginal upgrade that costs more than it’s worth.
Set Your Goal
If you earn points across multiple programs, change strategy once you hit your target tier. If you were chasing a free ticket, for example, it might make sense to shift future earning to another program after you’ve secured that reward.
I’ll focus on airline elite status here — I don’t hold any hotel chain cards and prefer to dabble in lodging rewards rather than tether myself to one brand. Having a clear plan for your points and miles — when to earn, when to spend — is the best way to stay on course and know when to pull the trigger.
What Are The Benefits and What Does it Take?
I’m writing from the Atmos/Alaska perspective, but the idea applies to any loyalty program. I’ve been an Alaska Mileage Plan member for years and recently added the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite. I love the card: triple points on dining and international purchases, 10k anniversary status points, and Visa Infinite travel insurance. (Read my full review here.)
For the first time I’ll reach Alaska Silver status (formerly MVP) this year. I’ve envied friends who are routinely upgraded to Premium Economy or First Class. I’ve already done the napkin math to estimate next year’s points earnings and to decide when to stop accumulating Atmos points if I’m not chasing Gold status.
A note on points: there are regular miles and there are status miles. Status miles — earned differently — get you to elite status. Atmos Summit cardholders can earn status miles through spend: the system is unusual because you can theoretically reach elite status largely through card spend, without ever stepping foot on a plane.
Don’t Lose the Thread
My goal is to obtain and keep Atmos Silver (20,000 status points) for perks like priority seating, upgrades, and checked-bag benefits. Unfortunately, the program is shifting: in 2026 Silver will lose the 2 free checked-bag benefit and that perk will be reserved for Gold (40k status points). Hitting Gold will be a real stretch unless I take a long international flight or several shorter ones.
The difference between Atmos Silver and Gold elite status are marked, and the benefits are tantalizing. Two free checked bags for yourself and all companions on the same reservation, priority boarding with group A instead of B (Silver), premium upgrades for yourself and 1 companion at the time of booking…there are myriad perks that have me starry-eyed and wondering what kind of travel gymnastics it would take to get me to Gold.
But won’t there always be the next step that is slightly better? Isn’t that exactly what our capitalistic society is banking on?
Be Aware of the Tradeoffs
A few practical reminders when pursuing higher tiers as it can be easy to get distracted. Airlines with good loyalty programs know their worth and can short change in some areas:
- Flights on premium carriers can be more expensive; compare total costs, including travel protection and convenience.
- Route networks matter — a carrier with limited routes can mean expensive or inconvenient itineraries.
- Loyalty programs change — benefits can be reduced or removed, sometimes after you’ve spent to reach them.
Stay the course — or don’t
Everyone wants to feel special- that’s exactly why these kinds of ‘elite’ tiers exist. And the truth is, it does feel nice when you get a little bit of extra nice treatment or a perk not available to everyone.
The gamification of points and miles is designed to keep us chasing the next level. The perks do feel intoxicating, but step back now and then to assess whether the benefits fit your life and justify the cost and effort. That pause is the best way to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.
