Summary

  • Many airlines offer secret invite-only tiers above elite statuses.
  • Tier benefits include luxury gifts, private drivers, and special lounge access.
  • Programs including American Airlines, Emirates, Delta, and Qantas have exclusive tiers.

Points and miles enthusiasts will be familiar with airline loyalty programs and tiers. It’s much more than counting the distance you fly on a given leg; sometimes, miles are earned based on ticket cost, a percentage of distance traveled based on the cabin class, or money spent using a partner credit card, to name a few. The most frequent travelers may find themselves earning the top status of programs such as Executive Platinum with American Airlines AAdvantage, Diamond Medallion with Delta SkyMiles, Super Elite with Air Canada Aeroplan, or Platinum with Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

However, what if we could reach even higher tiers with extreme benefits? Fortunately, for the diehard mileage warriors, there’s hope. We look here at a few of the major loyalty programs that have further tiers—these are often minimally publicized and maybe invite-only.

American Airlines AAdvantage Concierge Key

Concierge Key is probably one of the best-known ‘secret’ elite tiers. This could be because American Airlines AAdvantage is one of the largest and longest-running loyalty programs around, or it could be because it is the card of choice in the 2009 movie Up in the Air.

N349AN American Airlines Boeing 767-323(ER)

Photo: Simple Flying | Vincenzo Pace

Concierge Key is an invite-only tier above the top-level Executive Platinum. This tier is likely based on revenue spent with the airline, and estimates are that $50,000 – $85,000 annual airline spending is needed. Benefits of Concierge Key include:

  • All the benefits of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status and the continued benefits from further Loyalty Points earned.
  • Flagship first class check-in facilities.
  • Highest upgrade priority.
  • Access to the airline’s flagship lounges.
  • World of Hyatt Globalist status.
  • And, importantly, access to a dedicated team that monitors bookings and flight plans 24/7 and top priority on changes during disruption.

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ConciergeKey: What Is The Deal With American Airlines’ Secret Highest Tier Of Status?

This status tier is invite-only.

Emirates Skywards iO

With its base in Dubai International Airport, Emirates offers its frequent flyers status through its Skywards program. Typically, the highest possible tier is Skywards Platinum, which includes benefits like first-class check-in, Emirates lounge access for you and any guests, and bonus miles. But, if you spend upwards of $1 million with the airline, or in some cases, fly in their premium cabins weekly on cash tickets, you unlock a new tier called “iO.”

An Emirates chauffeur driver opens the door for a passenger.

Photo: Emirates

For those who achieve Skywards iO status, benefits are thought to include:

  • A hand-delivered welcome gift bag with luxury items and an enrollment card.
  • All the benefits of top-level Platinum status (including lounges and complimentary business to first class upgrades)
  • A personal driver from home to the airport and from the airport to the aircraft if the plane is at a remote stand.
  • There are reports as well of Skywards iO members receiving box seat tickets to sporting events the airline sponsors.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles 360

Although SkyMiles Diamond Medallion members through Delta Air Lines get complimentary upgrades to first class five days early and to Delta One on departure day, a VIP hotline, and CLEAR membership, it’s not the most exclusive tier. There is an invite-only elite tier above this.

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The Different Tiers Of Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles Program

Elite staus beings many perks and benefits in mileage earning and onboard treatment – with Delta Air Lines and its partners.

Delta does mention their 360 status level at the bottom of the Diamond Medallion benefits page, but they only say it’s by invite only, and there’s no specific goal to achieve it. In an interview with cntraveler, a previous Delta 360 member stated they had flown nearly 330,000 miles and spent $79,000 with the airline before being notified.

Delta One Business Class

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Those invited to Delta 360 can expect:

  • All the benefits of Diamond Medallion status.
  • An extravagant welcome bag with gifts like AirPod Pros or Tiffany champagne flutes.
  • Sports car gate transfers are also open to this tier.
  • One practical benefit is being notified before anyone else if a weather or maintenance issue will cause a delay and a team that does anything to get 360 members rebooked to their destination as soon as possible.

Related

Delta 360: Inside Delta Air Lines’ Most Elite Status Tier

Only Delta dictates who gets into the carrier’s most elite status tier.

Qantas Chairman’s Lounge

While the name points to a few lounges behind secret doors in major Australian airports, the Chairman’s Lounge with Qantas is also an invite-only club mainly composed of high-profile government officials, CEOs or other executives, sports players, and celebrities. Although not so secret as other unlabeled status tiers, it’s just as notoriously difficult to receive.

Qantas Airbus A380

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

Even for weekly business flyers that make it to Qantas Platinum One status, there’s no guarantee of an invitation. According to Point Hacks, Australian firms that spend over $1 million with the airline yearly may be considered, along with those popular with the media. But those who get the call are allowed to enter those tucked away VIP lounges, which model Qantas first class lounges but with a different color scheme.

Qantas logo engraved on a wooden wall outside the first class lounge in Sydney Airport.

Photo: Qantas

In addition to special lounge access, Chairman’s Lounge members can enjoy all the perks of oneworld Emerald and Qantas Platinum status. If taking an international flight from Sydney or Melbourne, members can expect a call to schedule a complimentary spa before departure. Chairman’s Lounge travelers are also first in line for upgrades and rebookings and have access to typically blocked seating assignments.

Other secret loyalty tiers

No matter where you are in the world, there’s bound to be an airline nearby offering one of these invite-only status tiers. United Airlines offers Global Services. Air New Zealand has a VIP lounge service, Elite Priority One, similar to Qantas.

For European readers, SAS offers the Pandion Club, with perks like guaranteed seats on sold-out flights and status with hotel chains. Air France-KLM hands out Platinum Ultimate status to those who spend over $110,000 and fly at least 200,000 miles annually.

Air France Airbus A319 and KLM Boeing 737-800 at Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport CDG shutterstock_1415057198

Photo: Georges Hanna | Shutterstock

And in Asia, Singapore Airlines’ first and business class loyalists have the potential to earn Solitaire PPS Club status, which comes with private check-in, first class lounge access, speedy immigration, and priority for award travel.

What are your thoughts on these secret status tiers? Let us know in the comments section below.

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