Travels Secret Societies

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Two members of Global Services, the unpublished, kid-gloves level of the United Airlines Mileage Plus program, have different ideas about which perks matter most. Michael Anisfeld, a 250,000-mile-a-year international traveler based in Chicago, says the "best part of being G.S. is absolutely being at the very top of the upgrade list, ahead of the 1Ks." (1Ks are travelers who fly 100,000 miles in a year and have reached the top of United's published elite scale.) Anne Strianese, a Global Services frequent flier based in New York, appreciated the personal attention and assistance she received from United employees when a recent arm injury restricted her mobility.

But the ultimate advantage of these secret travel societies, at least according to one hotel executive I know, is the recognition itself. "Of course you shower these folks with gifts and upgrades and more fruit and cheese plates than they can eat, but the recognition is what matters," he explains. "You tell a good customer that their business is so important that they quality for a secret level of status, well, that's a 'wow' factor, a real ego boost."

Lest you think only today's travelers need the ego reinforcement, consider the development of airport lounges. When American Airlines opened the first Admirals Club in 1939, it was a strictly by-invitation affair. As competing carriers began opening clubs, they were private too—top airline executives literally handpicked travelers for membership. It wasn't until the 1960s— after a couple of losses in court—that airlines turned their clubs into pay-to-play operations. And when American Express created the Platinum Card in the early 1980s, it, too, was by invitation only. It remained restricted until Amex invented the black Centurion card, a still more expensive and exclusive product for business travelers. Ironically, Centurion Card membership now comes with a Priority Pass, which gets you free access to the airlines' airport lounges.

By now, you have the obvious question: How do I get into one of these secret travel societies? The answer, of course, is the classic elitist retort: If you have to ask, you don't qualify.

By and large, airlines, hotels, and car-rental firms make membership choices based on the annual revenue travelers generate, not the number of miles flown or hotel nights stayed. They have sophisticated computer models that pinpoint their highest revenue and most profitable customers. Those travelers are then offered secret status for a year and (usually, but not always) told what they must do to qualify in subsequent years. Sometimes, travel agents or corporate executives who are responsible for deciding a firm's travel spending may also receive membership even if they don't travel much themselves.

The elitist rejoinder notwithstanding, however, it might not hurt to inquire about membership if you're already at the top published level of your favored airline or hotel's frequency program. That's how Anisfeld, the Chicago flier, was promoted to United's Global Services status.

"About three years ago, I was seated in first class next to someone who had been upgraded based on their G.S. status," he recalls. "So I called United and, when they called back, they claimed, 'We were just about to invite you!'"

The Fine Print… Hilton Hotels eliminated its secret society, the Diamond V.I.P. Level of the Hilton HHonors frequency program, almost a decade ago. "We used to give it to the top 1 percent of our members each year as an unanticipated reward," explains Adam Burke, who runs HHonors. "But people didn't like the fact that it was a moving target. And it hurt us because travelers didn't realize that we had an extra layer of loyalty they could reach." Hilton turned Diamond V.I.P. into a public level and membership now requires travelers stay 60 nights or complete 28 stays in a calendar year.

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