You may have ended up earning elite status during the 2024 qualifying year. Or, if you’re pursuing status with a program that doesn’t use the calendar year as its eligibility period, such as American Airlines Advantage, you may still have months to earn your desired elite status.
As the year winds down, it’s a good time to consider which higher statuses you plan to requalify for in 2025 and which ones you’ll let slip. Thinking about this now will provide direction as you book trips for next year.
Your elite status plans may look very different than mine, as I travel full-time as a digital nomad and aim to visit at least 40 countries in 2025. But to help you think about how to manage your elite statuses, here’s a look at what statuses I plan to achieve in 2025.
RELATED: So, what is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?
American Airlines AAdvantage: Qualify for AAdvantage Platinum Pro
AmericanAdvantage does not use a calendar year eligibility period. Instead, the program calculates Loyalty Points You earn in the 12 months between the beginning of March and the end of February each year.
I first earned AAdvantage Executive Platinum status in 2016 and requalified for this status each year until the qualifying year ending February 29, 2024. Over the years, I’ve gotten a ton of value from American Airlines miles and top-notch perks. Level AAAdvantage elite status. However, as AAdvantage has watered down or eliminated many of the status’s various benefits, earning Executive Platinum status is no longer necessary for me.
Related: More passengers are paying for first-class seats. It hurts your upgrade chances
Instead, I’m now focused on getting AAdvantage Platinum Pro status. Platinum Pro status still gives me the benefits I value most, including Oneworld Emerald status (which gives me access to first- and business-class lounges), a main cabin extra seat when booking when flying American Airlines, and Oneworld Checked baggage allowance when flying on airlines (except British Airways fares which only allow hand baggage).
The shift to loyalty points from the AAAdvantage program has changed how I earn status. Instead of earning status primarily by crediting flights to AAdvantage, I now also use AAdvantage eShopping, SimplyMiles, and my American Airlines credit card to earn enough loyalty points for my desired status.
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This shift towards loyalty points also prompted my husband – who had previously qualified for Executive Platinum status every year with me – to start earning Oneworld Elite status through the British Airways Executive Club. We can both qualify for AAdvantage Gold or Platinum through flights and split nonflight activities between our accounts, but we’ve decided it’s more beneficial to earn OneWorld status through different programs.
Related: Last-Minute Strategies to Get American AAdvantage Elite Status
Asiana Club: Uncertain
In December 2017, my husband and I began a 24-month qualification period to earn Asia Airlines status. As of the end of January 2018, we each achieved Asia Club Diamond status (which gives us Star Alliance Gold status) by the end of 2021. We re-qualified during the three-year extended qualification period in 2022 for status up to 2024. And last month, we once again qualified for Asia’s Diamond status by 2026.
We have enjoyed the benefits of Star Alliance Gold status with flying carriers such as United Airlines, Lufthansa and All Nippon Airways. Not to mention, attractive earning rates on partner premium cabin rentals will make it possible to earn the 30,000 tire miles needed to re-qualify for Diamond status by the end of 2026. However, Korean Air is acquiring Asiana Airlines, so it is unclear how. This will affect our elite status and requalification plans.
Related: Which Mileage Program is Best to Get Star Alliance Status Fast?
Marriott Bonvoy: Qualify for at least Platinum Elite
However, I only try to qualify for Marriott Platinum Elite status every year. Finally, the only tangible benefits that Titanium Elite status offers over Platinum Elite status are increased earnings on paid stays, United Premier Silver status and a 75-night annual Choice benefit.
Of course, these benefits are worth it. However, my husband and I would like to earn at least Platinum Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy each year as we each move toward higher levels of lifetime Marriott Bonvoy status. We get significant value from Platinum Elite perks, including late checkout starting at 4pm at most properties, lounge access at most brands with lounges, and the option to choose free breakfast at many Marriott brands.
So, we make sure we get the 50 elite nights we need for Platinum Elite status each calendar year (which is easy since we each get 30 elite night credits from our Marriott Bonvoy cards). Then, we put the next 25 nights into his account to earn Titanium Elite status because he doesn’t have a United credit card that offers additional award availability (and United Premier Silver status offers this benefit). After that, if we have any nights left before the end of the year we put another 25 nights into my account to earn Titanium Elite status.
You may wonder why we don’t just put all of our investments into one of our accounts to earn Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status. We redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for many of our stays to get the fifth night free, so we won’t even come close to reaching the spending requirements for Ambassador Elite.
RELATED: Last-Minute Strategies for Earning Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
World of Hyatt: Qualify for Globalist
However, thanks to promotions and reduced elite requirements amid the coronavirus pandemic, I qualified for Hyatt Globalist status in 2021. I initially felt that I would not continue to qualify for Globalist status in later years. After all, 60 nights is a lot, especially considering Hyatt’s small footprint and the absence of budget-friendly Hyatt options in many markets.
Hyatt World now has a solid place in my hotel elite strategy plan, in part because it has maintained the award charts (except for the Mr. & Mrs. Smith hotels, which it rates dynamically). But I also appreciate the value I can get at many Category 1 Hyatt properties, and I’ve gotten a lot of value from World of Hyatt Globalist Perks. As a Globalist member, I especially like the parking fee waiver, resort fee waiver, complimentary breakfast, and late checkout at 4pm at most properties on award night.
I get five qualifying night credits each year from my World of Hyatt credit card. The card also offers two qualifying night credits for every $5,000 I spend each calendar year. So, I aim to spend $15,000 on my Hyatt card each year to earn any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel or resort and six additional qualifying night credits. After accounting for the qualifying night credits I earn with my card, I only need to spend 49 nights with Hyatt each year to maintain Globalist status.
RELATED: Last Minute Strategies to Get World of Hyatt Status
IHG One Rewards: Skip to Platinum Elite
IHG’s top-tier Diamond Elite status requires 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. I currently have Diamond Elite status, but will be moving to Platinum Elite – which I get as my perk. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card – in 2025 because my husband and I put almost all of our IHG stays in their account in 2024.
The good news is that my husband has re-qualified for Diamond Elite status in 2024. We love this IHG elite status because of its benefits, the value you can get when redeeming IHG Points and IHG Milestone Rewards. elite status. In particular, I love the annual lounge membership you can choose as a milestone reward after you stay 40 or 70 nights in a calendar year.
We usually live together and can transfer IHG points between our accounts without a fee, so — especially since I have Hyatt Globalist status — we decided we’d focus on getting him back to IHG Diamond Elite status.
Related: Last-Minute Strategies for Earning IHG One Rewards Elite Status
Another status level I will earn
Finally, there are several other hotel elite statuses that I plan to earn or maintain through partnerships and card benefits, including:
Information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If I qualify for Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status in 2025, I will also retain United MileagePlus Premier Silver status. RewardsPlus partnership between Marriott and United.
Related: Best Credit Cards to Reach Elite Status
The bottom line
It’s not easy to make elite status requalification plans before your requalification period begins. Finally, the program may completely change its elite requirements or change the earning rate for the partner airline you’re flying on or the hotel brand you’re staying at. Or, one of your go-to hotels may drop out of the program, as happened with Former Marriott Hotel I enjoyed my stay in South Africa.
But one of the best ways to travel on the cheap is to book refundable flights and hotels in advance and watch for price drops from time to time. So, you may want to make a loose plan of what you want to qualify for in 2025 and book accordingly. If your booking is freely refundable, you can change your plans if a program increases its requirements or devalues its rewards.