![]() ![]() ![]() It’s for people who fly more than 100,000 miles a year. (Also, I can’t let this go by: United’s top elite program is called Premier 1K. You can also make last-minute changes to your flights at no charge. You can compare them for all the major airlines at Mackenzie’s site.Īt the top tier, which requires traveling 75,000 to 100,000 miles (plus other requirements), you’ll fly first or business class on most domestic flights, check three bags for free, and upgrade your friends, too. Higher tiers of elite status get more interesting. This is all very nice, but it didn’t actually save me any money, and like Mackenzie says, the point is not saving money: it’s getting nice perks for being a loyal (that is, valuable) customer. A silver luggage tag with my name printed on it.The right to board early (and therefore not have to fight for overhead space).I’ve flown a couple of times since then, and here’s what I got: Two round trips from Seattle took me over 25,000 miles and onto United’s Premier Silver list. I write about food and travel, and I love to visit Asia.Īlthough cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong appear to be just on the other side of a big lake from Seattle, they’re actually pretty far away. This is of particular interest to me because I, quite accidentally, qualified for elite status last year. Or, worse, taking a brutal eight-hour layover in East Nowheresville airport? What’s elite? So what are those elite status perks, and when are they worth spending an extra $200 for a ticket here and there-money that adds up quickly? “However, the idea is that the benefits of loyalty in the form of elite status (upgrades, fee waivers, bonus miles, etc.) provide a net gain,” he adds. “Loyalty is exactly that: the willingness to pay more or endure less convenient schedules,” says Scott Mackenzie, a travel expert who blogs at. Once you’re within reach of elite status, though, you face a dilemma.ĭo you stay loyal to one airline (or its alliance) to achieve or maintain elite status, or shop around for the best ticket prices and itineraries? The miles you earn with your credit card or through other bonus programs don’t count toward elite status. Keep in mind that those are actual butt-in-seat miles. Nearly all the programs require you to fly 25,000 miles in a year to qualify for the lowest level of elite status most people don’t travel nearly enough to qualify. These elite programs have been around for a long time, but the qualifications and perks change regularly. To an airline and its frequent flyers, however, elite status has a specific meaning: you’ve shown the airline that you’re one of its best customers, and the airline rewards your loyalty with special perks. “Elite status” sounds like what Aziz Ansari’s character Tom Haverford is always after on Parks and Recreation: the finest fabrics, fragrances, and gourmet foods.
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