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We like elite status benefits. First-class upgrades, dedicated customer service assistance and more are included.
Is airline elite status worth it at the moment? The current travel landscape makes it difficult to answer this question, as Upgrades are harder to come by and there are occasionally operational failures.
There are arguments for and against taking another spin on the hamster wheel.
Excluding checked bag fees is one of the main benefits of elite status. Many of these perks can be mirrored by a co branded airline credit card.
For about $100 a year, you can get a mid-tier airline card and enjoy many of the same benefits as elite members.
Normally reserved for elite members, the United Explorer Card's award availability is expanded to include a pair of one-time United Club passes each year.
More upscale airline cards, as well as premium travel rewards cards like The Platinum Card from American Express, offer even more benefits, including lounge access in some cases, which elite members typically don't even get unless they have a ticket to fly in the front of the plane.
Some airline cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, even reward cardholders with annual companion flight certificates, though the terms of these vary widely from card to card.
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It may be better to pay a flat annual fee for one of these cards to guarantee access to the perks that matter to you without going out of your way to chase status.
Many airlines automatically extend elite status, which means there are still many people eligible for upgrade. Delta Air Lines extended all elite status.
The lower thresholds that airlines put in place last year are now being joined by people who earned status with them.
If you add in more aggressive upselling of premium seats by airlines, you have limited free upgrades.
Delta offers upgrade to first class at discounted prices until a day before departure. Clint Henderson was upgraded to first class on a flight from San Francisco to Salt Lake City for just 9,900 Delta SkyMiles. He upgraded his miles at that price.
There are a lot of people trying to use upgrade certificates that were extended during the Pandemic. The airlines don't make upgrade space available to elite members so you often fight to use them. Delta and American Airlines can be reticent with releasing upgrade inventory, something that has not improved during the Pandemic.
For a long time, one of the most valuable perks of elite status was greater flexibility.
A same- day change benefit is offered by most elite statuses. waiving ticket change/cancellation fees is offered by some levels. This benefit will allow you to hold on to your tickets for as long as you want.
Many airlines have stopped charging those fees. Most awards and paid tickets can be changed or canceled for free.
You can switch to an earlier flight with United's free same-day backup.
Same-day changes, which are usually reserved for elite members, are nice to have, but they probably aren't worth trying for.
Entry-level and mid-tier elite status benefits can be replicated with co branded airline credit cards. Top-tier elite status is not the same as others.
The ability to gift entry-level status to someone else is one of the perks of being a top tier elite member. The elite members at the top of the food chain are more likely to get upgraded.
Sometimes top-tier elite members get better treatment and can sometimes get transfers between gates.
Many of the best airport lounges are reserved for first-class customers and elite members only, and you can't use a credit card to access them.
Is it worthwhile to pursue lifetime elite status?
As a top tier elite member, you will get better customer service. There is nothing else to say.
It is possible for elite members to get dedicated phone service numbers. The airline will recognize the elite member's phone number and route them to elite phone agents, which could allow them to skip the line altogether. Flexible rules can be applied to these accounts.
In the future, wait times can go over three hours, and can still happen in the current day. Our staff members with elite status on Delta only had to wait a short time. It is not possible to put a price tag on your time, and elite status will help save you time and patience.
Hold times are so bad.
During irregular operations, you will get priority. That was a big problem last summer, as weather and operational meltdowns led to mass flight cancellation for airlines.
When it comes to rebooking, elite members will usually get the first priority. If you are facing a cancellation, you will be the first to get a new flight. Major airlines often rebook top tier elite members on competitors to keep their most loyal customers.
It's not as valuable as it used to be, but it's still more accessible than ever.
Most airlines lowered their elite status qualification requirements due to the swine flu. Delta rolled over all of the Medallion miles in the year 2022. American gave elite members extra time to qualify for status when it moved to loyalty points, and United gave out free premier points in early 2022.
Back-to-back promotions have been offered by frequent flyer programs, such as rewarding passengers with double elite qualifications on flights. Southwest Airlines is running a number of year-end promotions for A-List status, which include retroactively awarding tier points for some award flights and double tier points on flights taken before Nov. 30.
The co branded airline credit cards offer an elite status shortcut.
In normal times, airline credit cards allow you to earn credits for your spending. With American's move to Loyalty Points, you may be able to earn status without ever flying.
Credit cards that jump start elite status are related.
Airline elite status depends on how much you use it and how much value you get from it.
It won't be worth it for most people to go out of their way to get elite status. If you hold the right credit cards and buy the occasional upgrade to first class, you can replicate many of the perks that a low- or even mid-tier elite traveler would enjoy. You don't have to worry about upgrades if you book business or first class award tickets.
There are exceptions for those who are true road warriors. It's still a different experience if you're flying with top-tier airline status. With the reduced qualifications and promotions being offered this year, it may be worth pushing through if you are close to the finish line.
Is airline elite status worthwhile? It can be if you can get to a relatively high tier without spending a lot of money.
Andrew Kunesh reports additional reporting.
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