Summary
- Focus on earning status with one program for the best benefits and fastest route to elite status
- Alliances offer consistent status benefits across member airlines
- Understand and take advantage of upgrade benefits for a better travel experience
Almost all major airlines have a loyalty program, which allows passengers to earn points or miles towards free flights and offers benefits for frequent travelers. These programs can offer much more than just better airport treatment and lounge access. There are some very valuable benefits if you know what to look for.
The details of earning status and the exact benefits on offer, of course, vary significantly between airlines. But there are some general themes. This short guide shares some tips on reaching elite status, and making the most of the benefits on offer with many airlines.
The best benefits are at the top levels
This may sound obvious, but you will get the most out of any loyalty program if you aim for the higher elite levels. The entry or middle elite levels with many airlines offer useful but not outstanding benefits. These could include speedier check-in and better customer service, but the valuable benefits of free lounge access, extra baggage, or complimentary upgrades tend to come later.
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This applies similarly when alliance-wide benefits are considered. All airlines that are members of one of the main alliances offer equivalent status with the alliance. The benefits here are generally very good at the top. Star Alliance probably stands out most for its differences here – it offers very weak benefits at the lower Silver level (just priority waitlisting and standby), but much more at Gold level (including lounge access and additional baggage).
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The real benefits with Star Alliance come with Gold status.
Focus on one program to earn status
To reach the higher elite status levels, it makes sense to focus on earning with one program. It is possible to credit flights to other airlines within the same alliance. With different earning rates and the switch to revenue-based earning, this can make sense. You can, of course, use points to book flights for any alliance member, so you are not losing out. Transfers between some programs are even possible – Avios leads the way here as a shared currency.
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Not everyone wants or aims for elite status. In this case, you can pick and choose programs for miles and points earning. But to expedite status earning, you need to stick with the same airline. There is no way to transfer tier credits with any airline!
Understand how elite status is awarded – from both flights and elsewhere
Every loyalty program has a different way of awarding status and understanding this is key to both choosing the right program for you and earning higher status as fast as possible.
Some things to take into account here include:
- Flying is likely the main way to earn status, but how this is calculated varies widely. Many airlines now award elite qualifying miles or points based on revenue (at least for their own flights). All the major US airlines now do this. Revenue-based earning rewards the higher spenders, but those flying in economy class and reduced-priced tickets lose out. Many others still award based on the booking class / fare code and the flight distance. As just one example, consider the rules for Loyalty Points with American Airlines AAdvantage as described in the guide below.
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Earning status is an important part of the AAdvantage program for those that fly frequently.
Earnings will differ for partner airlines. You will earn elite qualifying miles or points for flights with all airlines in the same alliance (but not generally for non-alliance airline partners). Critically, these earning rates will be determined in a different way. For those programs that award based on revenue, this will usually be done by distance (as the airline cannot access the underlying fare). There can be chances here to earn more by choosing a partner flight, especially when flying in a premium cabin.
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Some other earnings count towards elite status, but not all. Most loyalty programs offer many ways to earn points or miles. Credit card earning can make a big difference – and is an important part of many loyalty programs these days. Be careful, though, as not all of these earning sources will also earn elite qualifying miles or points. For example, with American Airlines AAdvantage, you can earn Loyalty Points from flying, credit card spending, and other spending. With British Airways Executive Club, on the other hand, Tier Points accumulate just from flying.
Make the most of benefits with other airlines
For airlines that are members of an alliance, some status benefits will apply across all alliance members, regardless of the main airline. This is a great way to make the most of status when traveling globally. For international travelers, it is a major reason to choose an alliance member for status.
Top-level benefits within any alliance will include lounge access with any airline when traveling in any cabin, an additional luggage allowance, priority airport handling and security, and some level of free seat selection. When used regularly, these are major benefits that can change your travel experience.
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Understand and use upgrade benefits
Free upgrades are undoubtedly one of the most valuable perks you can receive. Systems for this are very well established with the major US airlines. Mid and top-level elite members often receive unlimited upgrades (subject to availability and prioritization) on domestic and regional flights and upgrade certificates for long-haul flights.
These benefits are less common outside the US. Few airlines offer unlimited upgrading, but many offer limited certificates for top flyers.
And with all airlines, there is always the possibility of that free ‘operational upgrade.’ Policies for this are complex, but elite status is known to be a major factor.
Photo: British Airways
As just a few examples of the possibilities here:
- With American Airlines Executive Platinum status – and beyond for continued earning – members can receive a number of Systemwide Upgrades each year. These can be used to upgrade any flight by one cabin and can now be used on limited other airlines as well. Used well, the savings here can be significant.
- British Airways Executive Club Gold members receive upgrades for continued earning above this top status level, and nothing is guaranteed below that.
- Emirates Skywards keeps things exclusive and high-end, but still valuable. Top-level Diamond members only receive two complimentary business-to-first upgrades and 50% off on two more upgrades.
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Analysis: How Flight Upgrades Have Evolved Over The Years
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Take advantage of better value miles and points spending
Earning miles or points and using them for free flights or upgrades is a key part of loyalty programs. Elite status can sometimes help here, giving you more value out of miles and points.
- Earnings bonuses with elite status. Most loyalty programs offer additional miles earning for elite members, helping them reach award redemptions quicker (as examples: AAdvantage offers top-tier bonuses of up to 120%, Emirates Skywards up to 100%, and British Airways Executive Club a recently reduced 50%). With many programs, there are also bonuses for partner airline flights (though check carefully which airlines this applies to).
- Opening up extra award inventory. Making extra seats available for sold-out flights is a valuable benefit some programs offer. However, with dynamic award pricing becoming more common, this is less of an option. British Airways Executive Club, for example, offers additional award seat inventory in economy class for Gold members and has a ‘Gold Priority Reward’ benefit allowing the use of double Avios to secure a seat on almost any flight.
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- Reduced fees and charges. This is often overlooked, but having elite status can make award redemptions cheaper or easier. Having status may reduce booking or close-in fees, making it easier to cancel speculative bookings.
- Some of the non-alliance airlines have very strong offerings here. Frontier Airlines, for example, makes flights highly accessible for its elite members with access to ‘Last Seat’ awards, opening up many more redemption options.
There are many hidden perks with loyalty programs and many different ways to get the most out of them. This has just been a short and general overview. Feel free to discuss the points raised here or any more specific information for particular loyalty programs further in the comments section below.