Edited by Joe Cortez; June 2018
Almost all airlines and major hotel chains offer elite status to loyal guests. Elite status is a rating awarded to loyalty program members when they have reached a threshold by traveling a certain number of miles or by making a series of repeat stays. In some cases, travelers must also spend a certain amount of money with the airline or hotel chain. Once you reach this status, you will have access to benefits not offered to other travelers, such as late check-out, room upgrades, priority booking and boarding, executive lounge access, and free checked luggage.
Beyond enjoying perks like free checked baggage, access to comfortable airport lounges, and elusive seat upgrades, elite status sometimes supercharges your skills to earn points. Elite members accumulate points faster for every dollar spent or mile traveled, compared to regular customers. On American Airlines, AAdvantage members receive mileage bonuses of 40% to 120% on each flight, while Delta Medallion members receive an additional two to six miles per dollar spent compared to regular customers.
But is grassroots elite status worth it? Unless you plan to fly a lot of miles or stay more than a month in a hotel each year, it may not be as rewarding as you think.
What do I get as an Elite Status member?
Specific perks and benefits vary between airlines and hotels, but you can generally expect to receive the following once you achieve elite status.
- Complimentary upgrades : access to preferred seats, upgraded rooms, and fare class upgrades on the day of your flight. Some airlines also offer upgrades to guests or companions who fly with you.
- Baggage: Free checked baggage and priority baggage handling.
- Flexibility – Waiver of fees for ticket changes, same-day flight changes, and the ability to fly on hold.
- Travel assistance: access to dedicated customer service phone lines. Top-tier Elite members can also enjoy door-to-door connection assistance and concierge services at their destinations.
- Better Earning Potential: Earn points faster than regular customers.
- Cross-benefits – Enjoy Elite Status benefits at partner facilities such as hotels and car rental agencies.
- Lounge Access: Free drinks and snacks in comfortable lounges with workspaces.
- Hotel Benefits: Elite members of hotel programs (such as Starwood Preferred Guest) can expect a late check-out, welcome gifts, room upgrades, complimentary access to executive levels and health clubs, as well as guaranteed availability of rooms when reserving at least a few days in advance.
What does it take to get there?
Airline and hotel programs generally have a minimum spend or flight requirement within a calendar year. Once you have reached the predetermined number of points or miles and expenses, you will proceed to the next level.
After reaching the status level, your elite status will take effect immediately and will remain valid for the next calendar year. Most programs have three- or four-tier structures, allowing you to enjoy better rewards and more earning power while you fly and stay longer.
Miles that qualify for Elite vs. Elite Qualifying Segments
Most airlines have two ways to achieve elite status: status through elite-qualifying miles or status through elite-qualifying segments. Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) represent accrued miles based on distance traveled, while Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) represent accrued miles based on the number of flights flown.
For example: Brochure A earns an EQS and 8,000 EQM for traveling from New York City to Hong Kong. Traveler B who takes two 4,000-mile flights from New York to Berlin earns the same total EQM (8,000), but earns two EQS credits, one for each flight.
Airlines generally allow customers to earn elite status by flying a minimum number of EQS or EQM credits. This means frequent short-distance business travelers can achieve elite status just as quickly as occasional long-distance travelers. However, no passenger is exempt from the Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD) requirements, which force a passenger to spend a certain amount of money on base fares (before taxes) and on qualifying cabin upgrade upgrades.
What do I get for low loyalty status?
If you’re ready to jump into loyalty with an airline or hotel, it’s important to look before you jump. Here are the benefits you can expect when you reach the lowest loyalty level with America’s largest airlines and hotels:
Elite Airline Status
- US AAdvantage Gold Status:
- Earned after flying 25,000 EQM or 30 EQS and spending $ 3,000 EQD.
- Complimentary upgrades automatically requested on flights of 500 miles or less.
- 24 hour update window.
- 40 percent elite miles bonus on award miles.
- 50 percent discount on additional seats in the main cabin.
- Complimentary “preferred seats”.
- One free checked bag.
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Silver Medallion Status:
- Earned after flying 25,000 EQM or 30 EQS and spending $ 3,000 EQD or earning an MQD waiver through credit card expenses.
- Seven award miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta airfare.
- Unlimited earned Medallion miles that qualify.
- Unlimited upgrade requests on Delta and Aeromexico flights that begin 24 hours before departure.
- Complimentary Delta Comfort + seat access on paid fares (not E fares) or complimentary preferred seats.
- One free checked bag.
- Priority at check-in and boarding.
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards A List Status:
- Awarded after flying 25 one-way flights or earning 35,000 Tier Rating Points.
- Priority boarding with the best boarding pass available at check-in.
- 25 percent of Rapid Rewards points earning bonus.
- On hold same day free (when available).
- Priority registration and access to the safety lane.
- Exclusive phone line for A-List members for reservation.
- MileagePlus Premier Silver States Status:
- Earned after flying 25,000 EQM or 30 EQS and spending $ 3,000 EQD.
- Seven award miles per dollar spent on basic airfare.
- Minimum 500 EQM per flight.
- Complimentary access to Economy Plus seats at check-in.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrade Requests.
- Instant updates on full fare tickets (class Y or B tickets).
- Priority registration, security lines, boarding and baggage handling.
- One free checked bag.
Hotel Elite Status:
- Best Western Rewards Gold Status
- Earned after 10 nights, 7 qualifying stays, earning 10,000 points or with the Best Western Rewards MasterCard.
- 10 bonus points per stay.
- Room upgrades at check-in when available.
- Choice of thank you gift or bonus points upon arrival.
- Choice Hotels Privileges Gold Status
- Earned after staying 10 nights (reward nights count toward status), or with choice of Visa Signature privileges.
- 10 percent elite point bonus.
- Book reward nights up to 100 days in advance.
- Thank you gift option or bonus points upon arrival at hotels in the US and Canada.
- Hilton Honors Silver Status
- Earned after staying 10 nights, four qualifying stays, or with the Hilton Honors American Express card.
- Earn 12 points for every $ 1 spent on stays.
- Fifth night free when booking a reward stay of five or more nights.
- Digital registration and select your own room at select hotels (where available).
- Late check-out requests.
- Two free bottles of water per stay.
- Accumulated Elite Nights every year.
- World of Hyatt Discoverer Status
- Earned after staying 10 nights, booking 3 qualifying meetings or events, earning 25,000 basis points, or with the World of Hyatt credit card.
- 10 percent bonus points when choosing points.
- Complimentary premium internet where available.
- Resort fees do not apply to free night awards.
- Free daily bottle of water.
- Late check-out upon request at participating hotels.
- Room upgrade according to availability upon arrival.
- IHG Rewards Gold Elite status
- Earned after staying 10 qualifying nights, earning 10,000 elite qualifying points or with the IHG Rewards Club Traveler MasterCard.
- 10 percent bonus points on every stay.
- Elite member points do not expire.
- Priority check-in and extended check-out where available.
- Complimentary internet access.
- Welcome gift at check-in.
- One free Amazon Kindle eBook per quarter.
- Marriott Rewards Silver Elite Status
- Earned after staying 10 qualifying nights or with the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus credit card.
- 20 percent bonus points on every stay.
- Free standard internet access in the room.
- Late check-out priority (where available).
- Maximum reservation guarantee.
- Wyndham Rewards Gold Status
- Earned after staying 5 nights or without the Wyndham Rewards Visa card annual fee.
- Dedicated member services phone line.
- Preferred room upgrades (where available).
- Late check out on request when available.
Use a co-branded credit card
Credit card spending has long been associated with travel vouchers, and status benefits are no exception. All major airlines also offer elite credit cards that come with many of the premium benefits that come with low-level elite rated status.
For example, the United Airlines MileagePlus Club Card offers United Club membership, granting travelers access to United VIP lounges at any airport (except United Polaris loungers). Flyers can also access affiliated airport lounges and free checked baggage. After achieving elite status, using your airline credit card can also help you earn points and miles faster for every dollar spent.
If you are a casual traveler who is not loyal to an airline or hotel, having a credit card with your favorite brands might be better than getting low-level elite status. While most airline credit cards and some hotel credit cards have an annual fee, they also allow travelers to take advantage of the most important benefits. Airline credit cards allow cardholders to earn bonus points and receive a free checked bag, while hotel credit cards grant low-level elite status that comes with bonus points and late check-out.
If you have good credit, pay the annual fee to get most of the benefits, but upgrades could be cheaper than hitting spending and travel limits in a calendar year.
To get status sooner, be strategic
If you want to achieve elite status sooner, be strategic in how you book flights and accumulate miles. Airlines generally offer more miles to reserve flexible fares or seats in higher classes. Although these tickets will cost you more, they could get you across the threshold into elite territory faster.
You can also plan your flights to accumulate enough qualifying segments or miles before the end of the current calendar year. In some situations, airlines may offer travelers near their next state a challenge to move quickly, or the option to buy enough miles to get to their next state level. Before doing a “state run,” it is always important to check if you are closer to reaching state via EQM or EQS, as this can change the type of trip you take.
