Now that the year is half over it’s a good time for savvy travelers to reflect on the awesome and free trips they’ve taken, on the miles they’ve flown, and on the status they’ve achieved or hope to.

If you are a business frequent flyer traversing the globe all the time, you will, at some point or another, begin appreciating little perks along the way. An upgraded seat here, access to a lounge there, speeding up through security lines and other perks can make the life of a frequent flyer much more tolerable.

Unfortunately, achieving elite status with any major U.S. airline has become a daunting task lately due to reduced benefits and introduction of the revenue component into airlines elite schemes.

Thai Airways is a member of the Star Alliance and transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Diners Club. If you fly Thai Airlines regularly you might consider attaining their elite status. Unfortunately, the entry-level elite Silver tier hardly offers any benefits. The first sensible elite tier is Gold. Attaining Gold status is not easy, but the benefits are good even if they don’t include earning bonus miles.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program is very different from those of legacy carriers. For instance, Southwest doesn’t have business class, and unlike most airlines, it offers perks like free checked baggage and free cancellation to all, and not just elite customers. So while Rapid Rewards does have elite tiers, its perks and benefits are quite different from other programs.

Virgin Atlantic is not a member of any alliance, but it has 13 airline partners around the world. Also, Virgin Atlantic is the transfer partner of all four U.S.-based airline travel programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Diners Club, which makes it easy to collect Flying Club miles outside of flying. If you fly Virgin Atlantic fairly often, you might consider pushing for elite status, which would certainly make it more pleasant.

Cathay Pacific is a member of the OneWorld Alliance and transfer partner of three U.S.-based airline travel programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Citi ThankYou. That makes collecting Cathay Pacific miles relatively easy, so if you often fly to Asia, you may want to consider attaining elite status on Cathay Pacific.

A good way for North American frequent flyers to understand Emirates is to think of it as akin to Alaska Airlines. They are both hometown airlines that have slowly grown through strategic partnerships and smart market choices into major global forces. But they always put the expectations of local passengers first. In the case of Emirates, that means impeccable style and service.

Named the best regional airline in Europe in 2014 by industry watchdog SkyTrax, Greece’s Aegean Airlines is one of those airlines that you may not have heard of and rarely have occasion to fly but might seriously consider squirreling points away in.

There’s no doubt about it: Traveling in the first class or business class cabin of many international airlines is exciting. You’re treated like royalty, with preferred access to check-in and security lines, entry into the airlines airport lounge, a welcome glass of champagne when you board, a roomy seat that often transforms into a comfortable lie-flat bed and five-course gourmet meals. It’s easy to get used to.

Who Is Avianca LifeMiles Good For?

Avianca, the combination of the national airline of Columbia and a conglomerate of five Central American airlines, is not a carrier you expect your everyday Joe to have a frequent flyer account with, but it is actually set up perfectly for just that type of traveler.

Similar to Starwood and Deltas Crossover partnership, United and Marriott teamed up last year for RewardsPlus,  a joint venture aimed at offering elite members of both programs reciprocal benefits.

The Economist calls Vienna the second-most livable city in the world, but despite the recognition, not a single U.S.-based airline flies there. There are, however, plenty of alternatives to finding award seats in business or first class on partner airlines.

Travel can be a stressful experience if you’re not an elite member with an airline or hotel program. There are long lines, cramped seats and hotel rooms, and a la carte pricing that is leading to some pretty inflated costs for even the most basic travel arrangements.

Airlines are unbundling fares and packing more and more people into planes these days. Travelers can’t help but consider flying in business or first class, especially on a long-haul flight. But those fares are expensive, so most people think they are out of reach. They’re not. 

United Airlines has good domestic coverage, with several hubs in the middle of the U.S. for varied domestic and international routing options, and a very wide network of international air and hotel partners through Star Alliance and individual partnerships.

Imagine checking your bag for free at a premium check-in desk with no wait and waltzing past the masses to go through security. Then settling into the lounge for a free meal before skipping the line to board your flight, where you get automatically upgraded to business class. All thanks to your elite status.

I’ve always regretted not taking a semester to study overseas when I was in college, so when my daughter said she wanted to take advantage of her study-abroad program in Paris, I was thrilled. The cost would be the same as a studying here, except for the airfare. As soon as her departure date was set, I wanted to lock in her award flights. But I wasn’t sure if she would be staying on after her program ended or even if she might be coming back from another city.