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My travel is nowhere near what it was pre-pandemic, but I had a busy Q1 with lots of business travel and some fun with trips to Costa Rica and Las Vegas. 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 2024 stats:
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles®
Current Status: Diamond Medallion®
Goal: Diamond Medallion®
Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs): $10,066
I need to reach $28,000 MQDs to retain Diamond Medallion®. I’m at $10,066, which means I have already qualified for Gold Medallion®. I have $2,152 booked in April and I’ll hit Platinum Medallion® by the end of Q2.
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): 9
Current Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs): 4,342
I need to reach 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs or 24,000 PQPs. I am off to a decent start and have 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.
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit®
Current Status: Free Spirit Gold
Goal: Free Spirit Gold
Current Status Qualifying Points (SQPs): 975
I earned the status through a status match and it’s good until December 2024. I have flown Spirit six times in Q1 and have four flights already booked in April. I feel good about retaining this status and will need 5,000 SQPs by the end of the year to do so.
Prediction: I generally enjoy Spirit and will likely retain Free Spirit Gold.
World of Hyatt®
Current Status: Globalist
Goal: Globalist
Current Qualifying Nights: 14
I need to reach 60 nights by the end of 2024. I have several more nights coming up in the next few months and think that I’ll hit Globalist by late summer. I’m a bit behind this year, but am working on locking in Marriott Titanium first.
Prediction: I will retain Globalist status.
Marriott Bonvoy®
Current Status: Titanium Elite
Goal: Titanium Elite
Current Qualifying Nights: 57
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 four nights that have yet to post, which puts me at 57 for Q1. I have 10 nights booked in Q2. 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. The program has been diluted so much that I no longer strive for this level with its minimal benefits above Titanium Elite.
Prediction: I will retain Titanium Elite.
Hilton Honors
Current Status: Gold
Goal: Goal
Current Qualifying Nights: 5
I hold Gold status with Hilton Honors as a benefit from having The Platinum Card® from American Express. I stayed nights this year at Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts and the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World. I’ll have more Hyatt stays later this year. It doesn’t matter, I’ll retain the status because I get it as a credit card benefit.
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. My priorities have changed over the past few years and I’ve shifted accordingly with United becoming second to Delta and Hyatt leapfrogging Marriott for my preferred programs. If I stay on course, I’ll hit everything that I want in 2024.
Anthony’s Credit Card Picks: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.
I love the lounges where The Platinum Card® from American Express grants me access. It has had a prominent place in my wallet for many years now. While it does have an annual fee of $695, it provides many travel benefits and will always be my go-to for lounge access (both Delta Sky Clubs® and Centurion Lounges) and booking airfare from the airlines to earn 5x points (up to $500,000 per calendar year). Learn more. Rates & Fees. Terms apply.
(Featured Image Credit: Rohan.)
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