* Lounge access at any Star Alliance lounge
* Access to “first class” security lines in most US airports
* priority status for bumps, rescheduling on cancelled flights
* first-board status which helps you claim valuable overhead bin space

Of course, this means that you need to avoid routings that put you in the territory of a competing alliance such as Sky Team, or airlines that (gasp!) don’t offer frequent flyer points at all. Sometimes this means passing on a preferable routing. I have been known to do this.

A couple other notes of interest: booking a Tango fare through Air Canada’s website nets you “half status” (you didn’t mention that, did you? Not all miles are equal! While full fare tickets get “status miles” which count towards one’s status, cheaper tickets like the Tango classes will often only count a percentage of miles as “status”, while the others are run-of-the-mill miles like those one accrues at Esso stations, to be used only on rewards) yet booking that same ticket on Expedia will net you full status. Lord knows why, but it argues for skipping the $5 discount you get on AC’s website. Also, the SWU upgrade certificates might as well be toilet paper – I have never met anyone who books a fare class that’s available for upgrade. The SSWUs, though, are dark blue gold and should be cherished accordingly.