Chasing elite status with a hotel or airline can be addictive. Once you get a taste of the benefits (like upgrades, lounge access, bonus points and enhanced customer service), it's hard to give them up. Depending on how frequently you travel, you could easily get hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in value from elite status each year.However, these lucrative perks come at a cost. Many airlines require customers to spend at least $5,000 in a year to earn status, and the major hotel chains typically...