Check In: Q1 2026 Elite Status Pacing

Somehow 2026 is already more than 25% done. The time is flying by (no pun intended) and today is already April 2nd. My travel this year has been fairly busy with short, weekly trips that are helping me to rack up miles, segments, and stays quickly. At the end of each quarter, I like to check to see how I’m pacing and to review if the goals I set in the beginning of the year still seem attainable. Here are my Q1 2026 stats:

American Airlines AAdvantage®

I’ve been flying so much last year and I knew I’d have Delta and United where I wanted them status-wise. I decided to take advantage of a promotion through World of Hyatt® that offered Platinum Pro® status through American’s Instant Status Pass™ program. I am well on my way to maintaining Executive Platinum®. To maintain Executive Platinum®, I need 7,536 more Loyalty Points by April 5th to achieve this goal. I have a flight tomorrow that should get me there.

Current Status: Executive Platinum®

Goal: Executive Platinum®

Current Loyalty Points: 126,464

Prediction: I will retain Executive Platinum® status.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles®

Current Status: Diamond Medallion®

Goal: Diamond Medallion®

Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs): $7,383

I need to reach $28,000 MQDs to retain Diamond Medallion®. I’m at $7,383, which means I have already qualified for Silver Medallion®. I have $2,231 MQDs booked in the next few months (which will get me close to Gold) and will have lots more travel later this year.

Prediction: I feel good about requalifying for Diamond Medallion® this year.

United Airlines MileagePlus

Current Status: Premier 1K®

Goal: Premier 1K®

Current Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs): 10

Current Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs): 9,304

I need to reach 22,000 PQPs and 60 PQFs or 28,000 PQPs. I am off to a great start and some United flights booked in Q2. I am a Million Miler, so I know I won’t drop below Premier Gold®.

Prediction: I will reach Premier 1K® by the end of the year and retain the status.

World of Hyatt®

Current Status: Globalist

Goal: Globalist

Current Qualifying Nights: 18

I need to reach 60 nights by the end of 2026. I have several more nights coming up in the next few months and think that I’ll hit Globalist by late summer. I’m pacing better this year than last year. I am working on locking in Marriott Titanium (or maybe Ambassador) first. That will be set in Q2.

Prediction: I will retain Globalist status.

Marriott Bonvoy®

Current Status: Titanium Elite

Goal: Titanium Elite

Current Qualifying Nights: 59 (it’s actually 60 and does not include 5 other bonus nights from the current promo)

I received 25 nights from holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and 15 more from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Marriott has been running a double elite night promo and I have been pushing on that. I have 10 nights already booked in Q2 and will push past Titanium this month. I am Lifetime Platinum Elite, so I know no matter what I won’t go below that level. I was Ambassador pretty much since it was introduced by SPG (except for 2024). The program has been diluted so much that I no longer strive for this level with its minimal benefits above Titanium Elite, but with my travel up so much there is a chance I will get there. We’ll see.

Prediction: I will retain Titanium Elite.

Hilton Honors

Current Status: Gold

Goal: Gold

Current Qualifying Nights: 0

I hold Gold status with Hilton Honors as a benefit from having The Platinum Card® from American Express. I’ll retain Gold status because I get it as a credit card benefit and that is fine.

Prediction: I’ll retain Gold status from carrying The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Anthony’s Take: I’m on track to retain the status levels that I want to maintain. If I stay on course, I’ll hit everything that I want in 2026.

(Featured Image Credit: pcess609 via iStock.)