My Hubby Earned American Gold Status. Does it Matter?

Earlier this year, I wrote about my lack of excitement over earning Gold status with American Airlines. The fact that I earned any status at all may be somewhat exceptional considering I rarely pay for airfare. However, there’s something “meh” about Gold status with American for me, and the main part of that is just how lukewarm the perks are.

But, you cannot tell my husband that. Whenever we fly together on a different itinerary (which is often), he gets really annoyed with the fact I get priority boarding. He has also been known to get jealous over the fact I get priority check-in with my Citi AAddvantage Platinum Select card and he doesn’t. And, on the rare occasion I’ve gotten a complimentary 500-mile upgrade, he has stared at me longingly from the back of the plane (I think it has happened once). He is even enamored with the fact I have 8 500-mile upgrades in my account, even though I haven’t made the upgrade list on those yet.

Believe it or not, he has been so into my Gold status that he seriously considered a mileage run to push himself over the edge this year. He was only 3,300 EQMs short, after all. I had to talk him off the ledge on that one.

Now, due to a strange turn of events, my husband is going to Los Angeles this week for an event. Since he was flying American Airlines anyway (and he had no choice because someone else was paying his airfare), he will now earn American Gold status.

But, does it really matter? I don’t think so. Here’s why.

 

American Gold Status is Not Worth Pursuing

While it’s easy to believe earning status with an airline is going to make your life easier or help you qualify for some special perks, that is just not really the case anymore – especially with lowly Gold status.

With Gold status from American, the perks you receive are pretty weak and not remotely guaranteed:

• Complimentary auto-requested upgrades on flights 500 miles or less*
• 24-hour upgrade window
• 40% elite mileage bonus**
• 50% off Main Cabin Extra Seats (complimentary at check-in)*
• Complimentary Preferred Seats*
• 1 free checked bag

As someone who will soon be on my third year of having American Gold status, I can tell you that actually making the upgrade list for flights less than 500 miles is rare. I think it has happened to me once despite the fact I fly American all the time. Getting complimentary preferred seats is nice, but my husband (who didn’t have American status up until now) has had that perk for years with no explanation.

Getting a free checked bag is a nice benefit, but I already get that with my Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard. Priority boarding comes with the credit card too, irrespective of where on the plane I’m sitting.

Beyond all these letdowns, American Airlines rarely has the cheapest fares out of my home airport. I only fly them when the route is better or when someone else is buying. The rest of the time, fares are easily 10-20 percent more.

The Bottom Line

Is pursuing American Gold status worth it? If you can achieve any airline status naturally, then sure. The perks are better than nothing and having the opportunity to upgrade is always nice. But, it’s definitely not worth a mileage run, nor is it worth booking all our travel with American just for the benefits.

The vast majority of the time, it makes more sense to book the cheapest flights we can find without worrying over loyalty or status. Airline credit cards can help with free checked bags or priority boarding. The rest I can do without.

 

Do you worry about airline status? Why or why not?