At least once a week I’ll be one click away from booking an award ticket for myself to somewhere. Last week it was South America. This week it was London. But then, unfortunately, something always gets in the way, something that seems to compel me not to.
What is it? Well, the quest for million miler status. Hear me out. At my current pace of flying, I’ll reach million miler status next summer. By my current pace of flying I mean spending every weekend on an airplane, on a revenue United ticket. Million miler status with United gets you Premier Executive status (middle tier) for life, along with a few other goodies. I really want to lock in million miler status before the Continental and United frequent flyer programs merge, because Continental currently offers their million milers Silver status (low tier) for the person that earns million miler, along with Silver status for a companion.
Now, it will be interesting to see what the million miler program for the new, combined frequent flyer program looks like. I’m guessing they’ll go one way or another here, or maybe devalue the million miler program further, as flying a million miles isn’t what it used to me. I assume the programs won’t merge until at least October of next year, so I could definitely lock in million miler by then. I’m thinking United won’t be giving out Premier Executive for achieving million miler status post merger. If they go the Continental way, though, I assume they’ll at least honor the Premier Executive status they gave United million milers, and maybe give them some status for a companion as well. If they go the United way, I wouldn’t be surprised if they only start offering Premier status for million miler, and then Premier Executive status for two million milers.
Anyway, that’s all speculation. The only thing that’s certain is that I want to lock in million miler status. God willing I’ll get a bit of use out of million miler status, earning it at the age of 21.
So instead of making the next eight months nothing but pure torture travel, I’m trying to get as many weekends in cities I haven’t visited as possible. Next up, Monterey.
So, anyone else aiming for million miler status before frequent flyer programs merge? Any predictions as to which way the million miler program goes? And lastly, am I crazy?
You can bet I’ll be burning miles like crazy once I achieve million miler. And of course you’re all invited onto my million miler flight, if I actually get there. I’ll even do my best to have a special captain and/or flight attendant aboard.
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