TPG’s Zach Griff’s 2025 elite standing plans, journey stats and journey highlights
2024 was maybe my largest yr but, particularly from a private perspective.
On the journey entrance, I logged upward of 100,000 miles on 59 flight segments, making it yet one more busy yr for me on the highway. A few of the highlights embody a ski journey to Europe within the winter, a elegant escape to Greece through the summer time and an early-fall go to to Italy’s Puglia area.
Given my job as a journey blogger and creator, a few of my followers had been stunned to see that I finished touring for almost three months on the finish of the yr. That definitely wasn’t as a result of I used to be “over” journey.
In actual fact, once I shared the information that my daughter was born in late October, everybody shortly understood. I would been ready to share the excellent news with my neighborhood, and so 2024 undoubtedly closed with a bang — even when I did not journey as a lot as I’ve previously 5 years.
Now that we’re a household of three, I am beginning to develop some new views about journey. Beneath, I am going to share a few of these views — together with my plans for elite standing this yr — and my journey stats from 2024.
2024 journey stats
Complete miles flown: 100,093 (2023: 191,271; 2022: 185,780; 2021: 152,033; 2020: 133,796; 2019: 205,985)
Longest flight: Dubai to New York Metropolis (6,832 miles)
Shortest flight: Philadelphia to New York Metropolis (80 miles)
Distinctive airways: 14
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Distinctive airports: 34
Elite statuses earned: Six (Amtrak Visitor Rewards Choose Plus, American Airways AAdvantage Government Platinum, United Airways Premier 1K, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, World of Hyatt Globalist)
2025 journey plans
Ever since my daughter was born, I have been fascinated by journey in another way; I’ve been breaking down my journeys into two classes — household journeys and work journeys.
Going into 2025, I am actually making an attempt to lean into the previous. Though my daughter remains to be younger, I need to instill in her a love of journey and exploration in order that she will admire the nice world we inhabit.
I am going to give it just a few extra months till she will start to grasp what’s taking place round her, however I am already planning to take her on journeys to see household in Israel and to main cities with a lot of kid-friendly points of interest, like London.
And since I need to be round the home together with her, I am additionally fascinated by work journey in another way. Previously, when an occasion popped up in some far-flung place, I would typically make an enormous journey out of it.
However now that I am prioritizing being residence, I am planning on nonetheless saying sure to occasions, grand openings, inaugural flights and such however minimizing the period of time I should be on the highway.
As an example, late final yr, I went to San Diego and Boston for the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge and Delta One Lounge, respectively. What would possibly’ve been a one- or two-night journey will now be a same-day turnaround. (And do not fret; I like airplanes sufficient to spend a lot of time inside these steel tubes.)
All of that is to say that you’re going to nonetheless see me hitting the highway in 2025 and posting about it, however I’d simply be residence earlier than you even realize it.
2025 elite standing plans
This yr, I dropped one elite standing that I had earned for a few years in a row: JetBlue Mosaic.
I solely took three flights with JetBlue final yr and located that the entry-level Mosaic standing did not actually enhance my expertise a lot. Ever since JetBlue stopped letting Mosaics redeem factors for Even Extra House seats at profitable charges, I have not discovered a lot profit to the bottom Mosaic tier.
That mentioned, I simply took my first JetBlue flight with out Mosaic standing and located it irritating to attend on maintain for a help agent for over an hour (the Mosaic line all the time picked up inside a couple of minutes). So maybe I am going to find yourself chasing the standing if my JetBlue travels improve this yr.
Two of my different longtime elite statuses are American AAdvantage Government Platinum and United Premier 1K.
I am at present primarily based in Philadelphia, however I shall be transferring again to New York Metropolis in the midst of the yr. So, it is sensible to proceed splitting my major airline between American and United.
I’ll say, although, that I have not discovered my Government Platinum standing almost as profitable as it has been previously, largely due to the improve state of affairs.
Ever since American began permitting vacationers to spend their strategy to standing, I’ve seen what appears like many extra top-tier elite members on my flights. That results in much more competitors for the dwindling variety of last-minute, first-class seats accessible for an improve. Final yr, I paid for a lot of of my home upgrades with money (or miles), and I am going to in all probability proceed to try this within the coming yr.
The opposite factor that is been irritating about my loyalty to American is the dearth of confirmable improve area on long-haul flights. One of many perks of Government Platinum standing that I worth most is the power to pick systemwide upgrades for long-haul flights.
I accrued six of them final yr and have solely managed to efficiently redeem one.
That mentioned, I plan to resume my Government Platinum standing this yr after which reassess subsequent yr if it is sensible to proceed doing so.
Talking of upgrades, I discovered extra worth from United Premier 1K final yr than I’ve in current reminiscence. I had superb luck getting my PlusPoints upgrades to clear, and if that streak continues, I will be a cheerful camper subsequent yr. (Professional tip: Guide long-haul flights throughout shoulder season.)
One of the best information about United is that I do not even must requalify for standing this yr. That is as a result of the Chicago-based service unofficially presents new mother and father the power to increase their standing for one yr; if I do not journey sufficient with United this yr to hit 1K, I am going to undoubtedly be calling the MileagePlus service middle towards the tip of the yr to money in on this supply.
After I transfer again to New York, I’d take into account including Delta Air Traces into the combo as soon as once more, however I typically discover the Atlanta-based service’s fares to be increased than the competitors. Plus, the lackluster SkyMiles redemption charges do not make it so rewarding to fly with Delta.
Whereas I in all probability will not journey as a lot in 2025, I plan to make use of my cobranded bank cards to assist me shut the hole to renewing standing. All of my prime airways permit you to spend your strategy to standing, so I am going to be sure to pay my tax payments and enormous purchases with my bank cards through the yr.
Bank cards are additionally the important thing to unlocking resort standing. As it’s for a lot of of my TPG colleagues, the World of Hyatt loyalty program is by far my favourite. As a top-tier Globalist member, I constantly get pleasure from nice remedy, frequent upgrades and beneficial perks throughout my stays.
As such, I’ll do no matter it takes, together with spending on the World of Hyatt Credit score Card, to shut the hole to incomes Globalist standing once more subsequent yr.
Since there aren’t all the time Hyatt properties within the locations I go to, I additionally preserve standing with Hilton and Marriott for these non-Hyatt stays.
Sustaining standing with these two packages is as simple as holding the correct bank card. I do not plan to cancel my Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card or my Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card this yr, so I am going to preserve Diamond and Platinum Elite standing, respectively.
The knowledge for the Hilton Amex Aspire card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
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