Chasing Elite Airline Status? Make A Vacation Out Of It

Forbes

6 hours ago

I spent nearly $1,700 on an impromptu trip to Portugal in late February—not because I had a burning need to explore Lisbon at that exact moment, but because I was just 8,000 miles short of reaching Executive Platinum status with American Airlines.
Some travelers hit that kind of mileage (it takes 200,000 Loyalty Points during the airline's specific one-year period) by accident. I had to earn my top-level status with intention. And for me, a four-day European getaway was a far more satisfying way to cross the finish line than an empty roundtrip mileage run to nowhere.
Yes, I paid $1,000 for airfare and spent another $700 on an Airbnb, food, activities, and Ubers to chase elite airline status. But in the three short months since reaching this milestone, my newfound status has already upgraded me to first class—three times—on four-hour cross-country flights from Phoenix to Miami and once to Dallas. I got hot meals and free drinks, extra legroom, and saved at least $100 in airport food I didn't have to buy.
And I made lifelong memories with my dad, who joined the trip on a whim a few hours after I told him I'd booked. Worth it? Absolutely. Here's why I'd do it again—and how you can pull off something similar.
Let me be clear: I wasn't starting from zero. I'd already accumulated enough Loyalty Points through a mix of flights and credit card spend to get within reach of Executive Platinum (I'd spent most of 2024 as Platinum Pro). But I was still short by about 8,000 miles—and the qualification window was closing in a week.
Some hardcore points chasers will do what's called a 'mileage run,' flying to a destination and immediately turning around just to earn the miles or Loyalty Points. I didn't want to do that. If I was going to shell out money to cross the threshold, I wanted it to serve a bigger purpose: see a new country, enjoy the experience, and get something back beyond just status.
So I started researching long-haul destinations that offered the most miles for the least amount of money. One country rose to the top: Portugal.
Flights to Lisbon were surprisingly cheap given the distance—exactly what I needed to make the numbers work. And since I'd never been to Portugal before (it became country No. 47 on my list), it felt like a double win: strategic for status, but also emotionally fulfilling. To me, travel should never be purely transactional.
Originally, I'd planned to go solo. But as soon as my dad heard I was going, he booked his own ticket within hours. We've traveled together often all over the world (most recently to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Italy, Greece and Croatia), and this spontaneous add-on turned a practical trip into one I'll never forget.
We spent four glorious days exploring the city, trying new foods, walking neighborhoods, and making memories I wouldn't have gotten on a turn-and-burn mileage run. And that's something I'd encourage every points-focused traveler to consider: if you're going to spend money chasing loyalty perks, make the journey meaningful.
Since locking in Executive Platinum status in March, I've already seen returns on my investment—tangible ones. I've been upgraded three times from coach to first class on Phoenix-to-Miami flights (about 4.5 hours each way) and once to Dallas, where I got complimentary meals, upgraded snacks, free drinks, and a far more comfortable seat. At a conservatively estimated $400 value per upgrade, that alone more than cancels out the cost of my flight to Lisbon. And the year is young.
I also get:
One caveat worth noting: Executive Platinum doesn't get you lounge access on domestic flights, even when you're upgraded to first class. That's my biggest complaint. To access Admirals Clubs, you still need a separate membership or a qualifying business/first-class international ticket.
Would I recommend this strategy to others? Yes—but with a few stipulations.
First, calculate where you actually stand. I realized after the fact that I had about $3,000 in pending purchases on my co-branded credit card that hadn't yet posted to my account. In hindsight, I might not have needed to go all the way to Portugal to hit my target. But again, no regrets—I still got a great trip out of it.
Second, think about what status will really get you—and whether you'll actually use the perks. If you're not flying frequently or value first-class upgrades, the cost might not be worth it.
Third, make your trip count. A same-day turnaround might get you the points, but it won't do much for your soul—or your carbon footprint. Combining a mileage-earning opportunity with a bucket-list destination is more sustainable, both emotionally and environmentally.
Fourth, look beyond just the miles. Consider elite status benefits like upgrade priority, bag fee waivers, bonus miles, and partner airline advantages. It's not just about getting to the front of the plane—it's about how your entire travel experience improves once you're there.
Finally, be sure your travel is complete by the airline's cut-off date — I had until February 28th but booked my return flight home for the 27th just in case something went wrong with my flight. Can you imagine going through all that effort and expense only to miss out on achieving status at the 11th hour due to a missed connection or cancelled flight?
And now, every time I board early (I'm writing this article from seat 12C in coach, but I did get to board with Group 1 and got a primo spot for my carry-on bag!), skip the baggage fee, or sink into a first-class seat with a real meal on a domestic flight, I think: yeah, totally worth it.