Recently went to PP Lounge at NRT T1 international terminal... I was very impressed with the food options. Menu for made to order items such as chicken karaage, soba noodles, etc... DELICIOUS!! I haven't been to HND but NRT is underrated IMO.
It's great to hear you enjoyed the food at that PP Lounge! NRT definitely has some hidden gems that make it a fantastic airport experience. Thank you for sharing this with us. I think we need to visit this one.
Welcome back!!! We missed you guys!!! Great video!!! I just had a trip to Lisbon and Porto and would be crediting it to Alaska for the status (chasing) even though it's booked through partner airlines, also have a few more trips booked through Alaska this time from Feb through April but we'll see how far this thing takes us, a lot to think about, thanks for all the insights, tips, and tricks!!! And welcome back!!! -Nick&Grace
So fun seeing you guys again. I still have AA platinum pro and Turkish star alliance gold for this year. Will have to think if it is worth it for next year and on. I have to admit, it’s very nice to be able to walk to the priority line on an economy ticket and getting priority boarding. So far only Monkey goes with me to the lounge since we can’t exactly leave her out by herself 😂 so it was so cute seeing Serena with her little one in the first class lounge. Such precious memories! ❤
It's great to hear you're enjoying the perks of your elite status! Priority boarding really does make a difference, and those lounge moments with Monkey sound adorable! Please let us know her favorite lounge experiences!
@ Monkey’s fav lounge experience wasn’t with me 😬 I booked p2 Emirates first for his bday so he was able to take Monkey in as his guest at Emirates lounge in Dubai. She was amazed how attentive the staff was to her and apologized to her when her order was given incorrectly to another table. Even I haven’t experienced this! 😆
Absolutely! Having the right credit card can definitely help you enjoy some of those elite perks without the full commitment. Glad you found the video helpful! We love "status lite"!
A little late to this week’s podcast but I did watch it on the plane returning from Niseko, Japan 🇯🇵. Niseko was amazing and I highly recommend it. Stayed at the Hilton Niseko on points for a (5) night stay and got upgraded to a family room with a view of Mt. Yotei. It was phenomenal. Status with Airlines is totally worth it especially if you do fly international economy all the time (me). I currently hold Star Alliance Gold (United), Sky Team Gold (Delta), and Alaska MVP Gold (Status Match). I do plan on switching my mileage crediting to Alaska when possible as I do catch a lot of ANA flights so my United mileage balance is reaching 300k 😅. I also hold the Delta Reserve and the United Club as I tend to fly those for business quite a bit so status and holding these have yielded me 1st Class domestic upgrades quite a bit and upgrades to premier economy on international long haul flights quite often I might add. To me Status is a must, if you are for the moment not in the business or first class arena. We fly economy to stretch our points the farthest to continue to go on trips on a quarterly basis if possible.
Wow, it sounds like you had an incredible trip to Niseko, Carlos! Nicole will talk about her trip to Niseko next week. When the rest of us go to Niseko, I think we'll have a hard time picking between the Hilton and Hyatt options there. Your experience with airline status is super insightful-it's great to hear how much it has enhanced your travel experience. Your current airline status lineup is impressive! Thank you for bringing us along on your flight back home and we appreciate you sharing your airline status experiences!
Miguel, you are HILARIOUS! We flew United to Germany for Christmas and not only was our flight delayed several hours, but we missed a connection because we were stuck in the back of the plane behind everyone else. We immediately recognized the benefit of even just having gold status through AA and getting to select seats (for free) that are closer to the exit. My opinion is that everyone can benefit from status. Especially when you don’t even need to spend beyond your everyday expenses to gain it.
Words of wisdom! Thank you for sharing your experience! Travel can be such an adventure, and being closer to the exit can save a lot of hassle! We hope you eventually got to your destination safely and had a great time spending the holidays in Europe.
Alaska 75k here (SEA based) - I make sure I hit status, for both the 1st Class upgrades (typically 50% of my flights get upgraded) and also with that 75k I book straight into Premium seats. Been known to take a few mileage runs myself to maintain status.. SEA to Boston is one of the bet flights for that as if booked correctly you never have to worry about missing your return flight, as it will be the same plane bringing you back to SEA :)
Wow, it sounds like you really have a solid strategy for maximizing your status! Those upgrades and premium seats must make your travels so much more enjoyable. Keep enjoying those mileage runs and that's a fantastic tip about timing the SEA-BOS flight!
I have been Qatar Gold (One World Sapphire) for more than 10 years. I have been selecting seats on One World for free for years. I have been going to the AA Flagship lounges when I travel domestic even in economy for years
Wow, 10 years of Qatar Gold status is impressive! It sounds like you’ve really taken advantage of the perks. The Flagship lounges must make your travels so much more enjoyable! Thank you for this datapoint!
@@LetsGetToThePoints Previously an expat based in Poland and flew Qatar regularly to Asia (including before Qatar was part of Oneworld alliance). I loved Qatar and the status so much that I credited almost all my Oneworld flights to Qatar after Qatar joined Oneworld.
Great show, guys! Btw, I remember reading that getting Oneworld emerald status with a foreign program gives you access to Admirals clubs in the US even on domestic itineraries while AA Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum doesn't. I wonder what foreign Oneworld program is easiest to earn status with, now that BA is out of the picture.
I was totally bummed when American switched from distance-based to cost-based. I used to get gold/platinum status regularly with business trips. Last year, I flew 8 round trip biz flights from FL to CA plus another $9k personal spend on AA flights paid with Barclays AA card and still had to do some eshopping just to earn gold status. Ugh! Since I do fly AA often enough, I try to maintain status for better seat selection and early boarding for carryon bags but it’s gotten more and more painful in recent years.
Ugh! We feel your pain! It's definitely frustrating to see the changes in elite status qualification. Your commitment to flying with AA is commendable, and we hope they make it a bit easier for loyal customers like you in the future, but not holding our breath on that!
They seem to reward the shoppers a lot more than actual travelers. I only earn about 2500 miles flying round trip from FL to LA, which is half the actual distance. I was shocked when I learned that people were earning 4200+ miles for buying a meal kit. Unfortunately since I have to travel for work, I might as well try to make it a bit more convenient by earning status.
I have AA Platinum status currently, however most of my travel will be local airlines in SE Asia this year. I don’t thinkI will be chasing status. However I am curious about status matching. How do I do that? Is it just by putting my Advantage number on flight with Alaska? I will keep my AA credit card due to the free luggage and priority boarding. Loved this video and welcome back. I am looking forward to Elevate
Hi! You can google United MileagePlus Premier Status Match for the possibility to match to United status for possible Star Alliance status. Also contact Turkish to see what is available. Only match when you need it because some of these programs have restrictions for matching every x number of years. Check statusmatcher.com for datapoints on other status matches. Good luck and let us know how that goes! If you want to credit your oneworld flights to Alaska, you would apply your Alaska mileage number. If you want to credit your oneworld flights to AA, you would apply your AA number. Choosing which depends on which program status you're aiming for.
Hi! You can google United MileagePlus Premier Status Match for the possibility to match to United status. Also contact Turkish to see what is available. Only match when you need it because some of these programs have restrictions for matching every x number of years. Check statusmatcher.com for datapoints on other status matches. Good luck!
That's a great tip! Credit cards can definitely be a more straightforward way to snag elite status without all the extra flying. Please let us know what you like about One World Sapphire.
This podcast seems to be all about the hosts telling what they’ve done not telling you how to do it. They advertise that they’re telling you how to do it, but they’re really not. The worst is the Instagram website. Waste of time.
Literally LOL’d at Nicole’s comment about the kids flying on the wing of the plane 😂😂
We're glad you enjoyed that moment! This hobby would be no fun if we didn't laugh.
Recently went to PP Lounge at NRT T1 international terminal... I was very impressed with the food options. Menu for made to order items such as chicken karaage, soba noodles, etc... DELICIOUS!!
I haven't been to HND but NRT is underrated IMO.
It's great to hear you enjoyed the food at that PP Lounge! NRT definitely has some hidden gems that make it a fantastic airport experience. Thank you for sharing this with us. I think we need to visit this one.
Welcome back!!! We missed you guys!!!
Great video!!!
I just had a trip to Lisbon and Porto and would be crediting it to Alaska for the status (chasing) even though it's booked through partner airlines, also have a few more trips booked through Alaska this time from Feb through April but we'll see how far this thing takes us, a lot to think about, thanks for all the insights, tips, and tricks!!! And welcome back!!!
-Nick&Grace
Thanks, Nick & Grace! It’s great to hear about your travels! Good luck with chasing that status-sounds like you have some exciting trips ahead!
So fun seeing you guys again. I still have AA platinum pro and Turkish star alliance gold for this year. Will have to think if it is worth it for next year and on.
I have to admit, it’s very nice to be able to walk to the priority line on an economy ticket and getting priority boarding.
So far only Monkey goes with me to the lounge since we can’t exactly leave her out by herself 😂 so it was so cute seeing Serena with her little one in the first class lounge. Such precious memories! ❤
It's great to hear you're enjoying the perks of your elite status! Priority boarding really does make a difference, and those lounge moments with Monkey sound adorable! Please let us know her favorite lounge experiences!
@ Monkey’s fav lounge experience wasn’t with me 😬 I booked p2 Emirates first for his bday so he was able to take Monkey in as his guest at Emirates lounge in Dubai. She was amazed how attentive the staff was to her and apologized to her when her order was given incorrectly to another table. Even I haven’t experienced this! 😆
Monkey is so lucky to have these experiences! And your P2 is very lucky to have such a wonderful first class bday gift!
💯💯💯 The right credit card can get you "status lite" with most airlines at a nominal AF. Thanks for the info + video!
Absolutely! Having the right credit card can definitely help you enjoy some of those elite perks without the full commitment. Glad you found the video helpful! We love "status lite"!
A little late to this week’s podcast but I did watch it on the plane returning from Niseko, Japan 🇯🇵. Niseko was amazing and I highly recommend it. Stayed at the Hilton Niseko on points for a (5) night stay and got upgraded to a family room with a view of Mt. Yotei. It was phenomenal.
Status with Airlines is totally worth it especially if you do fly international economy all the time (me). I currently hold Star Alliance Gold (United), Sky Team Gold (Delta), and Alaska MVP Gold (Status Match). I do plan on switching my mileage crediting to Alaska when possible as I do catch a lot of ANA flights so my United mileage balance is reaching 300k 😅. I also hold the Delta Reserve and the United Club as I tend to fly those for business quite a bit so status and holding these have yielded me 1st Class domestic upgrades quite a bit and upgrades to premier economy on international long haul flights quite often I might add.
To me Status is a must, if you are for the moment not in the business or first class arena. We fly economy to stretch our points the farthest to continue to go on trips on a quarterly basis if possible.
Wow, it sounds like you had an incredible trip to Niseko, Carlos! Nicole will talk about her trip to Niseko next week. When the rest of us go to Niseko, I think we'll have a hard time picking between the Hilton and Hyatt options there. Your experience with airline status is super insightful-it's great to hear how much it has enhanced your travel experience. Your current airline status lineup is impressive! Thank you for bringing us along on your flight back home and we appreciate you sharing your airline status experiences!
Miguel, you are HILARIOUS! We flew United to Germany for Christmas and not only was our flight delayed several hours, but we missed a connection because we were stuck in the back of the plane behind everyone else. We immediately recognized the benefit of even just having gold status through AA and getting to select seats (for free) that are closer to the exit. My opinion is that everyone can benefit from status. Especially when you don’t even need to spend beyond your everyday expenses to gain it.
Words of wisdom! Thank you for sharing your experience! Travel can be such an adventure, and being closer to the exit can save a lot of hassle! We hope you eventually got to your destination safely and had a great time spending the holidays in Europe.
Alaska 75k here (SEA based) - I make sure I hit status, for both the 1st Class upgrades (typically 50% of my flights get upgraded) and also with that 75k I book straight into Premium seats. Been known to take a few mileage runs myself to maintain status.. SEA to Boston is one of the bet flights for that as if booked correctly you never have to worry about missing your return flight, as it will be the same plane bringing you back to SEA :)
Wow, it sounds like you really have a solid strategy for maximizing your status! Those upgrades and premium seats must make your travels so much more enjoyable. Keep enjoying those mileage runs and that's a fantastic tip about timing the SEA-BOS flight!
I have been Qatar Gold (One World Sapphire) for more than 10 years. I have been selecting seats on One World for free for years. I have been going to the AA Flagship lounges when I travel domestic even in economy for years
Wow, 10 years of Qatar Gold status is impressive! It sounds like you’ve really taken advantage of the perks. The Flagship lounges must make your travels so much more enjoyable! Thank you for this datapoint!
@@LetsGetToThePoints Previously an expat based in Poland and flew Qatar regularly to Asia (including before Qatar was part of Oneworld alliance). I loved Qatar and the status so much that I credited almost all my Oneworld flights to Qatar after Qatar joined Oneworld.
Is Nicole going to do a special episode on her trip to Japan? Would love to know where she went and how she liked Park Hyatt Kyoto.
She will be covering that during our episode premiering on Jan 31. Stay tuned!!!
I want that nail clipper...
It's a good one! You can have as many as you want at the Park Hyatt Kyoto!
@ lol
That FC lounge in Tokyo imo is the best one I've been to and I've been to 2 of the delta lounges.
The Tokyo lounge is definitely a standout! It's always great to hear about personal experiences with different airline lounges.
When will this episode be available on the Apple Podcasts app?
It should be there now, do you not see it? Please let us know
Great show, guys! Btw, I remember reading that getting Oneworld emerald status with a foreign program gives you access to Admirals clubs in the US even on domestic itineraries while AA Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum doesn't. I wonder what foreign Oneworld program is easiest to earn status with, now that BA is out of the picture.
Hi Prethive. See @MarvandAnnMarie's comment about having Qatar Gold status.
Time to get one of those Qatar Cardless cards then? 😄@LetsGetToThePoints
Just remember, apparently everyone can only have one Cardless card!
I was totally bummed when American switched from distance-based to cost-based. I used to get gold/platinum status regularly with business trips. Last year, I flew 8 round trip biz flights from FL to CA plus another $9k personal spend on AA flights paid with Barclays AA card and still had to do some eshopping just to earn gold status. Ugh! Since I do fly AA often enough, I try to maintain status for better seat selection and early boarding for carryon bags but it’s gotten more and more painful in recent years.
Ugh! We feel your pain! It's definitely frustrating to see the changes in elite status qualification. Your commitment to flying with AA is commendable, and we hope they make it a bit easier for loyal customers like you in the future, but not holding our breath on that!
They seem to reward the shoppers a lot more than actual travelers. I only earn about 2500 miles flying round trip from FL to LA, which is half the actual distance. I was shocked when I learned that people were earning 4200+ miles for buying a meal kit. Unfortunately since I have to travel for work, I might as well try to make it a bit more convenient by earning status.
I have AA Platinum status currently, however most of my travel will be local airlines in SE Asia this year. I don’t thinkI will be chasing status. However I am curious about status matching. How do I do that? Is it just by putting my Advantage number on flight with Alaska? I will keep my AA credit card due to the free luggage and priority boarding. Loved this video and welcome back. I am looking forward to Elevate
Hi! You can google United MileagePlus Premier Status Match for the possibility to match to United status for possible Star Alliance status. Also contact Turkish to see what is available. Only match when you need it because some of these programs have restrictions for matching every x number of years. Check statusmatcher.com for datapoints on other status matches. Good luck and let us know how that goes!
If you want to credit your oneworld flights to Alaska, you would apply your Alaska mileage number. If you want to credit your oneworld flights to AA, you would apply your AA number. Choosing which depends on which program status you're aiming for.
Citi AA Exec card gives you Group 4 boarding.
Thanks for sharing that info! Group 4 boarding can definitely make the boarding process a bit smoother.
I have lifetime AA gold, million miler. When I am flying Alaska, in have been using my AA status for possible upgrades. Is this correct?
Yes, this is correct. You'll want to add your AA loyalty number to all oneworld flights for the credit and benefits.
FIRST!!!
You beat me to it 😃
Congrats on being first! It’s always exciting to get in early. Thanks for watching!
Can I status match AA Gold to other airlines ?
Hi! You can google United MileagePlus Premier Status Match for the possibility to match to United status. Also contact Turkish to see what is available. Only match when you need it because some of these programs have restrictions for matching every x number of years. Check statusmatcher.com for datapoints on other status matches. Good luck!
I want to know how Miguel racked up 82 AA flights
Miguel has been flying quite a bit! Lots of little hops were involved.
Already got points for AS Card points.
That's awesome! Having those Alaska miles can definitely make your travel experiences more rewarding. Let us know what redemptions you're looking at!
Second
Thank you for being here! Every comment counts and we appreciate your engagement! 😉
No need for mileage run for one world sapphire. Just get Qatar premium credit card. With $500 annual fee, you will get Qatar gold for the first year.
That's a great tip! Credit cards can definitely be a more straightforward way to snag elite status without all the extra flying. Please let us know what you like about One World Sapphire.
This podcast seems to be all about the hosts telling what they’ve done not telling you how to do it. They advertise that they’re telling you how to do it, but they’re really not. The worst is the Instagram website. Waste of time.
We’d love to know which part wasn’t clear so we can help clarify it for you. We're always happy to provide more detail for you.😊