Know this for sure: any and all frequent flyer statuses, no matter how small – can make a huge difference. That’s particularly true when things go wrong, and these days, with crazy weather and other events, things do go wrong. On airline standby lists, upgrade lists, baggage waivers and priority boarding, having one hurdle over other passengers can be invaluable.
Unfortunately for most, reaching that initial hurdle of achieving elite frequent flyer status with an airline can prove difficult. Here’s how to obtain elite frequent flyer status as quickly and easily as possible. And remember, in most cases, you don’t even need to fly on the airline you’re earning status with. In fact, you can fly with 15 or more airlines to earn a single status.
In case you haven’t noticed, airlines are awarding fewer and fewer miles for flying economy, and more and more for those up front. They’ve mostly equated loyalty with money Earning rates for flying premium, business and first class have skyrocketed.
We know what you’re thinking – but in reality, it’s easier to fly these cabins than ever. Thanks to brilliant mistake fares and just solid deals, it’s not impossible to fly long haul business class for $600. A single trip of this sort could secure a year of elite status. And with some airlines, like Virgin Atlantic, you can now even earn yourself elite frequent flyer status just from using points, without ever “buying” a ticket.
Star Alliance Gold is a fantastic status to achieve, allowing lounge access, airport fast track lanes, extra baggage and all sorts of goodies. A couple airlines make it really easy to achieve, too.
Aegean: Aegean offers the easiest track to Star Alliance Gold. If you’re able to fly six segments with them, you only need to collect a total of 36,000 flown miles in a year for Star Alliance Gold status. If you don’t want to fly with Aegean, earning 48,000 miles by flying on any Star Alliance Airline will secure Star Alliance Gold.
Since many (even cheap) business fares earn 200% mileage with Aegean, one big trip could secure Star Alliance Gold. It’s easy to retain too.
Asiana: Asiana Club offers Star Alliance Gold by with Asiana Diamond membership. The status requires only 40,000 miles, which makes it one of the lowest hurdles to lock in Star Alliance Gold. Many premium economy and business fares earn 125% of the miles, making this very realistic.
Turkish: Turkish very frequently offers status matches. Therefore, if you have airline status with a competing chain, it’s easy to earn Star Alliance status, by applying for a match from Turkish. You’ll keep your current status, but gain status with an entire new airline group.
Even the lowest tier, OneWorld Ruby can secure great perks like improved standby status and free exit row and bulkhead economy seats, which would usually require payment. Plus, you can use business class check in as a Oneworld Ruby or above member, regardless which Oneworld airline you’re flying on.
But starting at Sapphire things get really nice, every time, even when you fly economy. OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members receive lounge access, upgrades and fast track perks – amongst other clutch benefits on all tickets, not just when they’re up front anyway.
American: American Airlines regularly offers a status challenge. They also have a reciprocal program with World Of Hyatt, where elite hotel guests can earn fast tracked and comp’d status.
For those with a short spurt of travel, who may struggle to qualify using traditional standards for qualification, this is an excellent fast track opportunity. Unfortunately, you’ll need to spend $200 to take the challenge, and an additional $2000 in flights, or 16 flight segments to complete the Platinum challenge – in three months. To take the challenge call 888-697-5636 (Skype works, too).
SkyTeam ElitePlus is the equivalent of Star Alliance Gold or OneWorld Sapphire. Once the status is achieved, members receive “SkyPriority” benefits on all flights. This is an extremely worthwhile status which streamlines any journey, with security fast tracks, lounge access, excess baggage waivers and priority boarding.
Air France: Air France Gold status secures ElitePlus with SkyTeam, and SkyPriority on all flights. For residents outside of France, the status only requires 180 “XP” the Flying Blue loyalty program system for tracking elite status. This is amongst the lowest easy opportunities out there.
With the ability to earn XP on Delta, KLM, Korean, Garuda Indonesia and countless other SkyTeam carriers -it’s a very realistic opportunity, particularly if you find a cheap business class deal.
Delta: Delta offers credit cards in the U.S. which make it possible to earn SkyTeam ElitePlus status just by spending. In addition, if you’re able to secure elite status with a competing airline,
Delta offers a fast track status challenge, requiring just 18,750 qualification miles within three months for Platinum status. That’s a mere fraction of the 75,000 miles generally required.
Virgin Atlantic: Virgin Atlantic doesn’t technically fit into SkyTeam, but if you earn Gold, you’ll have SkyTeam ElitePlus style benefits on Air France, Delta and KLM. Earning Gold can be done using points, or with a few business or premium economy flights per year, or with a lot of economy flying. They also offer an instant status match.
FoundersCard is a membership based organization, which runs frequent promotions for discounted membership. For roughly $450, you’ll get access to accelerated fast tracks with a variety of airlines. This isn’t the most straight forward approach to status, but it can make a difference.
Amex Platinum
Non U.S. based American Express Platinum Card members have an instant fast track to Star Alliance Gold, requiring just three flights. For those in the U.S. and elsewhere, the instant match to Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold can create some airline benefits.
Funny, I’m doing a post now about renewing status on aegean! But, the rate you show here is only after you have earned silver status with Aegean. You have 12 months from that time to earn Gold so the total mileage is higher – 36,000 in the total timeframe if you do 6 Aegean/Olympic segments.
According to the Asiana website, if you have a burst of travel you should be able to earn status for almost 4 years. As I understand it, once you sign up, if you earn status, that status will be good for two years from sign up, and then for their normal status period of two years.
Am I reading this right?
By joining your Starwood and Delta memberships, you’ll be higher on priority for upgrades and other perks when flying.
These goodies only apply if you’re SPG Platinum. SPG Gold will only get 1 SPG per $1 on Delta.
Flying blue: be aware: on economy earn only 25% of miles. So, if you fly economy, 40k mean 160k flown miles! If you fly on cheap economy, delta is a better way…
BUT, if fly on premium economy (many great routes to Asia at a low price, ex. BUD-PVG r/t apx 1000USD) can reach gold for apx 3000USD.
Also, remember Flying Blue is changing later this year.
Gilbert – About the Founders Card, when you said “Full details here”, that does not work as a link…also if readers didn’t know it platinum Marriot, SPG etc. gives Silver status on UA flights. It’s not much, but you should take advantage of it.
You will need a total of 72,000 miles (flying within any Star Alliance Airline) to secure the Star Alliance GOLD status not 48,000 as said: “you only need to collect a total of 36,000 flown miles in a year for Star Alliance Gold status. If you don’t want to fly with Aegean, earning 48,000 miles by flying on any Star Alliance Airline will secure Star Alliance Gold”. And again, “one big trip could secure Star Alliance Gold. It’s easy to retain too”. This is not correct as you will need to first upgrade to SILVER status (24,000 miles) then you will need the 48,000 miles as said.
These statements should be clarified to avoid readers’ miss interpretation.