The loyalty programs of the six biggest U.S. - based carriers have received major overhauls in recent years, with some of them adding spending minimums
for achieving elite status, reducing the amount of miles earned per flight, and even limiting the rules for redeeming them for free travel.
Another benefit of all Delta co-branded cards is that spending $ 25K per year (combined on all cards) waives the Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement
for achieving elite status.
Not exact matches
First,
for every $ 10,000 you spend on the card you will earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQP), which are what you need to
achieve elite status.
Co-branded cards make it easier
for you to
achieve elite status membership with a particular airline.
Example: If you book two rooms at the same hotel
for a one night stay — you will earn Hilton Honors Points on both of the rooms, but you will only receive one night credit total toward
achieving the ability to gift
elite status.
For one stay, how many rooms will count toward
achieving eligible nights to unlock the ability to gift
elite status?
Comparing this to the challenge mentioned above, it is clear that SPG has made it much easier
for Air Canada Altitude members to
achieve SPG
elite status.
On the face of it, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers you the same perks that you are likely to find in other airlines» frequent flyer programs such as earning miles whenever you book a flight, special privileges
for various tiers and unlocking even more reward opportunities by
achieving a higher «
elite»
status in the frequent flyer program's membership tiers.
Achieving and maintaining
elite status in hotel and airline programs is often an obsession
for active travelers.
LifeMiles allows you to
achieve status which includes recognition from the Star Alliance
elite program crediting the majority of your miles from partner flights, but there is a minimum mileage - flown - with - Avianca requirement
for each level as well.
The most significant change is that points won't expire
for SPG members who have
achieved lifetime
elite status, thereby matching what Marriott Rewards offers.
The Premier card makes it easier to
achieve A-list
elite status by granting you 1,500 tier - qualifying points
for every $ 10,000 in purchases — up to 15,000 tier - qualifying points annually.
If you're close to
achieving elite status, but don't fly enough to qualify, it may be worth paying extra
for a card that earns
elite miles.
The MilleMiglia program has 3 levels
for annual
elite status qualification (there is also a 4th level
for those that have
achieved top tier
status for at least 10 consecutive years, but this is not relevant to our discussion of reciprocal benefits).
Members of the Ritz - Carlton Rewards program have a new benefit: double credit
for each night's stay during 2014 (including those already completed), offering them «an accelerated journey to maintaining their current
elite status or
achieving a higher level,» the company said.
But... If you
achieve the top - tier of the PointsHound
elite status program, that same $ 7,000 will earn you about 63,000 miles — enough
for a one - way flight to Europe in business class or two round - trip flights to Hawaii in economy class.
Achieving topbonus
elite status requires 24 flights or 25,000
status miles
for Silver, 60 flights or 50,000 miles
for Gold, and 100,000 miles
for Platinum.
First,
for every $ 10,000 you spend on the card you will earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQP), which are what you need to
achieve elite status.
Delta said that award travel miles will be earned based on ticket price, starting at five miles per dollar spent
for general members and increasing based on the level of
elite status the member has
achieved.
The benefits of
achieving a so - called «
elite»
status vary, but can include access to lounges (regardless of travel class), a bonus in
elite qualifying miles when flying in first or business class, the ability to reserve better seats including enhanced economy class, free or discounted upgrades, priority in standing by
for a different flight, priority in not being bumped if a flight is oversold, fewer or no nuisance fees,... well, you get the picture.
Members now have new requirements
for achieving AAdvantage
elite status, most significantly including a minimum spending requirement
for each level.
You needed just 20,000
elite qualifying miles to
achieve top tier
status with them, and they'd give you 1,000
elite qualifying miles just
for signing up.
In my humble opinion, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the reward program of the Starwood group, gives you the richest
elite benefits in the hotel industry, including the opportunity to
achieve Gold or Platinum
status for life.
Two weeks ago I wrote up a technique
for achieving Marriott Gold
elite status through manufactured spending that's slightly more convoluted but much cheaper than the straightforward method described by Frequent Miler.
SPG ® gives you the richest
elite benefits in the industry, including the opportunity to
achieve Gold or Platinum
status for life.