TPG’s Zach Griff’s 2025 elite standing plans, journey stats and journey highlights

2024 was maybe my greatest 12 months but, particularly from a private perspective.

On the journey entrance, I logged upward of 100,000 miles on 59 flight segments, making it one more busy 12 months for me on the highway. A few of the highlights embody a ski journey to Europe within the winter, a chic escape to Greece through the summer season 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 have been shocked to see that I ended touring for almost three months on the finish of the 12 months. That definitely wasn’t as a result of I used to be “over” journey.

The truth is, after I shared the information that my daughter was born in late October, everybody rapidly understood. I would been ready to share the excellent news with my neighborhood, and so 2024 positively 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 will share a few of these views — together with my plans for elite standing this 12 months — and my journey stats from 2024.

2024 journey stats

Whole 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

Each day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

Distinctive airports: 34

Elite statuses earned: Six (Amtrak Visitor Rewards Choose Plus, American Airways AAdvantage Govt 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 serious about 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 attempting to lean into the previous. Though my daughter remains to be younger, I wish to instill in her a love of journey and exploration in order that she will recognize the good world we inhabit.

I will give it a couple of extra months till she will start to know what’s occurring round her, however I am already planning to take her on journeys to see household in Israel and to main cities with a number of kid-friendly points of interest, like London.

And since I wish to be round the home along with her, I am additionally serious about work journey in another way. Prior to now, when an occasion popped up in some far-flung place, I would usually make a giant journey out of it.

However now that I am prioritizing being house, I am planning on nonetheless saying sure to occasions, grand openings, inaugural flights and such however minimizing the period of time I must be on the highway.

As an example, late final 12 months, 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 number of time inside these metallic tubes.)

All of that is to say that you will nonetheless see me hitting the highway in 2025 and posting about it, however I would simply be house earlier than you even understand it.

2025 elite standing plans

This 12 months, 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 12 months 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 Area seats at profitable charges, I have not discovered a lot profit to the bottom Mosaic tier.

That stated, I simply took my first JetBlue flight with out Mosaic standing and located it irritating to attend on maintain for a assist agent for over an hour (the Mosaic line all the time picked up inside a couple of minutes). So maybe I will find yourself chasing the standing if my JetBlue travels enhance this 12 months.

Two of my different longtime elite statuses are American AAdvantage Govt Platinum and United Premier 1K.

I am at present primarily based in Philadelphia, however I will probably be shifting again to New York Metropolis in the midst of the 12 months. So, it is smart to proceed splitting my main airline between American and United.

I’ll say, although, that I have not discovered my Govt 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 solution 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 obtainable for an improve. Final 12 months, I paid for a lot of of my home upgrades with money (or miles), and I will most likely proceed to try this within the coming 12 months.

The opposite factor that is been irritating about my loyalty to American is the shortage of confirmable improve area on long-haul flights. One of many perks of Govt Platinum standing that I worth most is the flexibility to choose systemwide upgrades for long-haul flights.

I accrued six of them final 12 months and have solely managed to efficiently redeem one.

That stated, I plan to resume my Govt Platinum standing this 12 months after which reassess subsequent 12 months if it is smart to proceed doing so.

Talking of upgrades, I discovered extra worth from United Premier 1K final 12 months than I’ve in latest reminiscence. I had superb luck getting my PlusPoints upgrades to clear, and if that streak continues, I will be a contented camper subsequent 12 months. (Professional tip: E book long-haul flights throughout shoulder season.)

The perfect information about United is that I do not even must requalify for standing this 12 months. That is as a result of the Chicago-based provider unofficially affords new mother and father the flexibility to increase their standing for one 12 months; if I do not journey sufficient with United this 12 months to hit 1K, I will positively be calling the MileagePlus service heart towards the top of the 12 months to money in on this provide.

Once I transfer again to New York, I would take into account including Delta Air Strains into the combination as soon as once more, however I usually discover the Atlanta-based provider’s fares to be larger than the competitors. Plus, the lackluster SkyMiles redemption charges do not make it so rewarding to fly with Delta.

Whereas I most likely 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 high airways can help you spend your solution to standing, so I will make certain to pay my tax payments and huge purchases with my bank cards through the 12 months.

Bank cards are additionally the important thing to unlocking lodge 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 persistently get pleasure from nice therapy, 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 12 months.

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 appropriate bank card. I do not plan to cancel my Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card or my Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card this 12 months, so I will preserve Diamond and Platinum Elite standing, respectively.

The data 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.

Associated studying: