You don't need airline elite status to get elite-like treatment. This week, we discuss how to get the perks without the loyalty and how to think about the costs associated if you decide to stay on that hamster wheel.

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00:00 Intro

01:42 Giant Mailbag

04:47 What crazy thing . . . did Amex do this week?

06:46 Mattress running the numbers: Aeroplan cardholders can get 4th night free with points

https://frequentmiler.com/aeroplan-offering-4th-night-free-on-hotel-stays-but-its-very-poor-value/

09:55 Card Talk: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card

https://frequentmiler.com/usbar/

https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/

22:35 Award Talk

22:37 Choice Privileges sweet spot awards

https://frequentmiler.com/excellent-new-set-of-choice-privileges-sweet-spot-rewards-for-stays-through-11-30/

https://frequentmiler.com/a-sweet-spot-hotel-and-a-rookie-mistake/

25:27 Greg finds an award not on the search tools

28:21 Finnair via Avios

32:02 Main Event: Roll your own airline elite status

32:30 Basic run-down of earning status through flight or credit card spend

https://frequentmiler.com/earn-elite-status-aa-vs-delta-vs-united/

37:48 Do we need elite status at all? How can we be treated elite?

57:53 Why might you actually want airline elite status?

1:04:45 Are the benefits of loyalty worth it? Who should pursue it?

1:09:36 Question of the Week: I accidentally purchased $6500 in United miles while booking an award. I can ask them to reverse the purchase, but is it worth the risk of the ticket getting canceled?

Music credit: Annie Yoder