I made Gold elite status this week on American Airlines. Nice, nice, nice. I can now get the exit row (and I have for the next month) and I get to board with group 1. I don't have to compete as much for the best (non-first class) seats and I get first crack at the overhead bins. Those two things seriously rock. Oh, yes...do they ever! Now that I am in the exit row, I can even get my laptop out without worrying that the seat in front of me is going to wipe out the screen....sweeeeet.....
BTW, if you fly a lot on AA, they have mileage challenges you can take. If you get a certainly number of points in 3 months, they automatically move you to the correct level. For example, I should make Platinum in the next month or so. Not bad for flying for only a few months. Nice.