I realize the title might be a bit misleading. I don’t mean social status, I mean sky miles status!
When I was working at Turner I traveled a lot, mostly back and forth from Atlanta to Los Angeles, so I amassed quite a few miles and traveled my way up to Gold Medallion status with Delta. For those of you who travel a lot, you’ll understand how oddly satisfying it is to reach a milage status though deep down we know it doesn’t mean anything.
Nevertheless, once I reached Silver status then it was my goal to reach Gold. I have been Gold status for a few years but now I am finally so close to making Platinum. Platinum status! I want it so bad! Why I couldn’t tell you. What benefits I’ll get from being Platinum that I don’t get from being Gold I don’t know. All I know is that I have 11,376 miles to hit Platinum status for 2015 and I am determined to do it!
Today I fly to Argentina to visit family but I used miles to purchase the ticket which means the miles won’t count towards my status hunting. So that means that when I get back I’ll have five weeks to get those miles. Yesterday I spent one hour and 3 minutes on the phone with Delta trying to figure out an inexpensive trip that I could take that would get me the miles I need. Apparently I am not the only person that plays this mile hunting game. I was the third person the Delta agent talked to yesterday with the same goal in mind: reach the next status level.
We ended up on a three day trip to Istanbul. It was just over $1,000 and included the flight, which is 11,500 miles, and hotel. I put it on hold and was so excited I had found a fun trip that would get me the status that I want so bad and I get to go to a place I’ve always wanted to go to! But then I started talking to some friends and I was reminded about ISIS. Oh right. That whole terrorist situation going on out in the middle east. Clearly in my unemployment status I have been living in my own world and have completely disconnected. Must do something about that…
Though Turkey is technically Eastern Europe, obviously it’s still close enough that it might not be safe for a single female traveler. And also apparently western travelers looking to join ISIS have been going through Istanbul to get to wherever it is they need to go to join ISIS. What? Educated Americans & Europeans joining ISIS? I don’t get it, it’s all so scary I don’t even want to think about it (which I think we’ve already established I don’t think about it).
But anyhow, that’s another topic I suppose which I am not informed on enough to make comments on. So, sadly I am giving up my hold on the fabulous quick getaway. Just got off the phone with the Delta agent, she seemed pretty bummed. I felt bad. So it’s back to the drawing board. Maybe as I kill time at the airport today I’ll drive some poor person crazy in guest services to help me figure out my next trip.
Meanwhile, as my dad has asked me, what’s the point of getting Platinum status now that I am unemployed and won’t be traveling all over the place? I have no good answer to that question. All I know is that I want it and I’m determined to get it. Hey, I have to set goals for myself right? Mindless as they might be, it’s still a goal!
I stumbled across your blog and have enjoyed reading it. I am also currently unemployed and decided to pursue writing a blog and working on a novel.
I totally understand wanting to reach platinum status, it is an achievement thing. I wanted to reach my next level of traveller status because it was so close for a while now but haven’t nailed down the right trip or funds for it. I also debated trying to use all my travel points to simply buy a ticket to somewhere but have nailed down a place within my range of travel I wanted to go. I am stuck at the point where I am almost on the next level. Anyhow, the idea of a trip just because I can is fun to consider.
Enjoy your trip, I hope you find the prefect getaway to set you into the Platinum Status. 🙂