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Airline elite standing is an effective way to scale back the charges you pay and enhance your flying expertise. Perks vary from waived checked bag charges, to airport lounge entry, early boarding and free upgrades. Historically, the best way to earn standing is by flying loads with a particular airline and its companions. Nevertheless, that is not the one means.
A lot of the main airways provide a path to elite standing with out flying if you happen to merely open and spend on a co-branded airline bank card. Some airways additionally allow you to make progress towards incomes elite standing by means of different actions, like purchasing on-line and eating out.
CNBC Choose has the main points on learn how to earn airline standing with out even stepping foot on an airplane, which principally revolves round discovering the appropriate journey bank card.
Tips on how to earn airline standing with out flying
American Airways
American Airways provides 4 tiers of elite standing, plus an invitation-only stage. Relying on the standing stage, perks can embrace free checked luggage, precedence check-in, airport lounge entry and upgrades, which even apply to award flights and flights operated by Alaska Airways. This system provides some ways to earn elite standing past simply flying and bank card spending.
You earn American Airways standing by accumulating Loyalty Factors, and also you earn one Loyalty Level for each eligible AAdvantage mile you earn. These are the present standing necessities:
- AAdvantage Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum Professional: 125,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Government Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Factors
Whenever you make purchases with an American Airways bank card, such because the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® or AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard®, you will earn one Loyalty Level per greenback. You do not earn Loyalty Factors from any bonus spending classes or from the playing cards’ intro bonuses.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® is price contemplating if you happen to fly with American Airways a couple of times a 12 months since you’ll get your first checked bag free on home American Airways itineraries.
- First checked bag free on eligible American Airways flights for the cardholder and as much as 4 journey companions on the identical reservation
- No Overseas transaction charges
- Most well-liked boarding
- American Airways Flight Low cost has a excessive spending requirement
- Has an annual charge
AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard®
Details about the AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by CNBC Choose and has not been reviewed or offered by the issuer of the cardboard previous to publication.
Rewards
2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent on eligible American Airways purchases; 1 AAdvantage® mile for each $1 spent on different purchases.
Welcome bonus
60,000 miles after the primary buy and paying the $99 annual charge inside the first 90 days.
Annual charge
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on steadiness transfers made inside 45 days of account opening
Common APR
Stability switch charge
Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.
Overseas transaction charges
Credit score wanted
Execs
- Straightforward-to-earn welcome bonus
- Beneficiant steadiness switch intro APR provide
Cons
- Not very rewarding for purchases
You too can earn Loyalty Factors and miles if you store with an eligible American Airways companion. This consists of transactions you make by means of the American Airways purchasing portal and with playing cards linked to AAdvantage SimplyMiles, in addition to rental vehicles, accommodations and cruises you e-book by means of American Airways and its companions. You too can earn Loyalty Factors by means of the AAdvantage Eating program, finishing “Miles for Opinions” surveys and extra.
Delta
Delta revamped its elite standing program for 2024 and transferring ahead. Now, you earn standing solely based mostly on what number of Medallion Qualification {Dollars} (MQDs) you earn in a 12 months. The tier necessities are as follows:
- Silver Medallion: 5,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion: 10,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion: 15,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion: 28,000 MQDs
Delta Medallion elite standing members can benefit from advantages, comparable to seat upgrades, free checked luggage, precedence boarding and Selection Advantages (like improve certificates and Sky Membership® memberships and journey vouchers) on the greater ranges.
Delta cardholders earn $1 MQD for each $20 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card. That price improves to $1 MQD per $10 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card.
SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Enterprise, Reserve and Reserve Enterprise cardholders additionally obtain a 2,500 MQD enhance every Medallion Qualification 12 months and get nearer to standing with MQD Headstart. This MQD enhance is per card, so you possibly can stack the boosts in case you have a number of playing cards that earn the bonus. For instance, in case you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Enterprise card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, you will earn a 5,000-MQD bonus.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card may also help flip your small business bills into Delta miles and elite standing credit score.
- Annual Companion Certificates for flights inside the U.S. or to Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean (yearly after renewal; Baggage expenses and different restrictions apply.)
- Over $400 in annual assertion credit score provides
- World Entry/TSA PreCheck utility charge assertion credit score of as much as $120 about each 4 years (Enrollment required for choose advantages talked about)
- Excessive annual charge
- Lacks key journey insurance coverage perks
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are offered by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial workers.
- Welcome Supply: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get pleasure from a Companion Certificates every year after renewal of your Delta Platinum Enterprise Card. The Companion Certificates requires cost of government-imposed taxes and costs of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with as much as 4 flight segments). Baggage expenses and different restrictions apply.
- Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. delivery purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or extra. Phrases and miles cap apply. *In case your buy qualifies for a class that has a better mileage accelerator, solely the upper accelerator will apply.
- Get nearer to elevated Standing subsequent Medallion® 12 months with MQD Headstart and MQD Enhance: obtain $2,500 Medallion Qualification {Dollars} every Medallion Qualification 12 months and earn $1 MQD for every $20 of purchases together with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card Members save 15% when utilizing miles to e-book Award Journey on Delta flights by means of delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Low cost not relevant to partner-operated flights or to taxes and costs.
- With the $120 Resy Credit score, earn as much as $10 per 30 days in assertion credit on eligible Resy purchases utilizing your enrolled Card.
- Earn as much as $10 again every month after utilizing your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with choose suppliers.
- Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket shall be added to the Complimentary Improve listing, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- Obtain Zone 5 Precedence Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Elevate your journey expertise with an annual assertion credit score of as much as $200 after utilizing your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card to e-book pay as you go accommodations or trip leases by means of Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Phrases and limitations apply.
- See Charges & Charges
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card’s array of premium advantages make it an ideal match for probably the most loyal Delta flyers, together with elite standing boosts, rideshare credit (enrollment required) and airport lounge entry.
- Entry to airport lounges, together with Amex Centurion lounges
- As much as $560 in annual assertion credit (Enrollment could also be required)
- 15% low cost for eligible Delta award flights (Not relevant to partner-operated flights or to taxes and costs.)
- Excessive annual charge
- No bonus spending classes exterior of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are offered by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial workers.
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases in your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card Members obtain 15 Visits per Medallion® 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership® when flying Delta and may unlock a limiteless variety of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases in your Card in a calendar 12 months. Plus, you will obtain 4 One-Time Visitor Passes every Medallion 12 months so you possibly can share the expertise with household and pals when touring Delta collectively.
- Get pleasure from complimentary entry to The Centurion® Lounge if you e-book a Delta flight together with your Reserve Card.
- Obtain $2,500 Medallion® Qualification {Dollars} with MQD Headstart every Medallion Qualification 12 months and earn $1 MQD for every $10 in purchases in your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card with MQD Enhance to get nearer to Standing subsequent Medallion 12 months.
- Get pleasure from a Companion Certificates on a First Class, Delta Consolation+®, or Important Cabin home, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight every year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificates requires cost of government-imposed taxes and costs of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with as much as 4 flight segments). Baggage expenses and different restrictions apply.
- $240 Resy Credit score: Whenever you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy eating places, you possibly can earn as much as $20 every month in assertion credit. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit score: Earn as much as $10 again in assertion credit every month after you employ your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with choose suppliers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card Members get 15% off when utilizing miles to e-book Award Journey on Delta flights by means of delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Low cost not relevant to partner-operated flights or to taxes and costs.
- Together with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, obtain improve precedence over different Medallion Members inside the identical Medallion tier and fare class grouping if you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all different eligible purchases.
- No Overseas Transaction Charges.
- $650 Annual Payment.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you happen to’re permitted for a Card with no influence to your credit score rating. When you’re permitted and also you select to just accept this Card, your credit score rating could also be impacted.
- Phrases Apply.
- See Charges & Charges
United
United MileagePlus Premier standing comes with advantages, comparable to complimentary checked luggage, bonus miles on airfare, lounge entry on eligible itineraries, seat upgrades and extra. You qualify for standing by incomes Premier Qualifying Factors (PQPs) or a mixture of a decrease PQP threshold and a sure variety of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF).
United’s standing tier necessities are:
- Premier Silver: 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP, or 6,000 PQPs
- Premier Gold: 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP, or 12,000 PQPs
- Premier Platinum: 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP, or 18,000 PQPs
- Premier 1K: 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP, or 28,000 PQPs
You may earn PQPs by spending on many United Airways bank cards, however what number of you possibly can earn per card varies. You may earn as much as 1 PQP per $20 you spend on an eligible card (1 PQP per $15 on the United Membership and United Membership Enterprise playing cards), and every card has an annual cap on what number of PQPs you possibly can earn.
On the low finish, you possibly can earn as much as 1,000 PQPs per calendar 12 months with playing cards comparable to The New United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs) and as much as 4,000 PQPs with The New United℠ Enterprise Card (see charges and costs).
The New United℠ Explorer Card is price it even if you happen to solely fly with United Airways a couple of times a 12 months as a result of you possibly can benefit from two United Membership℠ passes per 12 months when the first cardmember or approved consumer is touring and you’ll obtain free checked luggage.
- No annual charge for the primary 12 months
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Membership airport lounge passes yearly
- Worthwhile United Airways perks, comparable to in-flight buy reductions and the power to earn elite standing credit score by means of bank card spending
- First checked bag free profit requires you to pay for the flight with the cardboard
- United Airways has a dynamic award chart which may restrict the worth and suppleness of your miles
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are offered by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial workers.
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, eating, and resort stays when booked with the resort
- Get pleasure from precedence boarding privileges and go to the United MembershipSM with 2 one-time passes every year on your anniversary
- Free first checked bag – a financial savings of as much as $160 per roundtrip. Phrases Apply.
- As much as $120 World Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS charge credit score
- Earn a $100 United journey credit score after spending $10,000 on purchases together with your UnitedSM Explorer Card inside a calendar 12 months
- Over $500 in companion credit every year
- Member FDIC
Stability switch charge
- Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger
When you often e-book enterprise journey with United Airways, the United℠ Enterprise Card’s advantages can prevent cash and make the journey extra snug because of perks comparable to the primary checked bag free and two United Membership lounge passes per 12 months.
- Two free United Membership airport lounge passes yearly
- Worthwhile United Airways perks, comparable to in-flight buy reductions and the power to earn elite standing credit score by means of bank card spending
- First checked bag free profit requires you to pay for the flight with the cardboard
- United Airways has a dynamic award chart which may restrict the worth and suppleness of your miles
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are offered by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial workers.
- Restricted-time provide: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and a pair of,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months your account is open.
- $150 Annual Payment.
- 2x miles on United® purchases, eating together with eligible supply companies, at gasoline stations, workplace provide shops, and on native transit and commuting.
- 1x mile on all different purchases. Plus, worker playing cards at no further price – miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you possibly can earn rewards quicker.
- Obtain a 5,000-mile “higher collectively” bonus every anniversary when you could have each the UnitedSM Enterprise Card and a private Chase United® bank card.
- Get pleasure from a free first checked bag – a financial savings of as much as $160 per roundtrip (phrases apply), 2 United MembershipSM one-time passes per 12 months, and precedence boarding privileges.
- Obtain a $125 United journey credit score after making 5 United® flight purchases of $100 or extra every calendar 12 months together with your UnitedSM Enterprise Card.
- Member FDIC
Stability switch charge
- Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger
Southwest
Southwest has a easy elite standing program with two tiers, which you’ll be able to earn with out flying by accumulating tier-qualifying factors (TQPs):
- A-Record: 35,000 TQPs, or 20 flights
- A-Record Most well-liked: 70,000 TQPs, or 40 flights
A-Record members obtain advantages comparable to precedence boarding and bonus factors on paid flights.
Outdoors of flying with Southwest, you possibly can earn TQPs by making qualifying purchases with sure Southwest bank cards. Each the Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card earn 1,500 TQP for each $5,000 spent on the cardboard. You may earn a limiteless variety of TQPs by means of bank card spending.
Southwest additionally provides its well-liked Companion Cross, which is actually a limiteless two-for-one flight go for any paid and award tickets (minus taxes and costs). The Companion Cross may be earned by accumulating 135,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors, or 100 flights.
All co-branded Southwest playing cards additionally robotically present 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors every calendar 12 months. Plus, the factors earned from the Southwest card welcome bonuses and card spending rely towards Companion Cross qualification.
The Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card is an ideal match for severe Southwest followers who can simply maximize its advantages like upgraded boardings and an annual journey credit score.
- Worthwhile welcome bonus
- 7,500 bonus factors each card member anniversary
- $75 annual Southwest journey credit score
- Restricted worth if you’re not touring with Southwest
- Excessive annual charge
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are offered by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial workers.
- Earn 50,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary factors every year.
- Earn 3X factors on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare.
- Earn 2X factors on web, cable, and cellphone companies; choose streaming.
- $75 Southwest® journey credit score every year.
- No overseas transaction charges.
- Member FDIC
Stability switch charge
Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.
The Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is Southwest’s mid-tier card and is efficacious if you happen to often journey to or from locations Southwest serves.
- Worthwhile welcome bonus
- 6,000 bonus factors each card member anniversary
- No overseas transaction charge
- Restricted worth if you’re not touring with Southwest
- No annual assertion credit to offset the annual charge
Rewards
- 3X factors on Southwest® purchases, 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare
- 2X factors on Fast Rewards resort and automotive rental companions
- 2X factors on web, cable, and cellphone companies and choose streaming
- 1X factors on all different purchases
Stability switch charge
Alaska Airways
Alaska Airways elite members earn bonus miles on flights, free checked luggage, upgrades and extra. Alaska has simplified its MVP standing tiers and now you possibly can qualify based mostly solely on the variety of elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) you earn. With the announcement of Alaska merging with Hawaiian Airways, the businesses introduced they’d be integrating the 2 loyalty applications into one, with extra particulars to return. As of July 2025, prospects of the airways can get pleasure from a standing match between Alaska’s Mileage Plan and Hawaiian’s HawaiianMiles, the power to redeem Mileage Plan miles on Hawaiian Airways-operated flights and the chance to earn miles throughout each applications.
The Alaska Airways standing tiers are as follows:
- MVP: 20,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold: 40,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 75K: 75,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 100K: 100,000 EQMs
Purchases throughout a number of playing cards are mixed to qualify for the EQMs, and you’ll solely earn a most of 20,000 EQMs mixed throughout all playing cards every year, together with the Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise bank card and Alaska Airways Visa Signature® bank card. You may solely qualify for the Fundamental MVP standing based mostly on bank card spending alone, however an Alaska Airways card is an effective way to present you a head begin on incomes greater standing ranges.
- Annual companion fare
- Lounge membership low cost
- Earns beneficial miles
- Annual charge
- Restricted bonus spending classes
Details about Financial institution of America playing cards has been collected independently by CNBC Choose and has not been reviewed or offered by the issuer previous to publication.
JetBlue
JetBlue Mosaic elite standing is damaged down into 4 tiers, which you progress by means of by incomes tiles:
- Mosaic 1: 50 tiles
- Mosaic 2: 100 tiles
- Mosaic 3: 150 tiles
- Mosaic 4: 250 tiles
Entry-level Mosaic 1 standing grants you two free checked luggage (first bag for you and a companion), as much as three free drinks per flight (beer, wine, liquor) and precedence boarding. Increased tiers unlock further perks, like Mint improve certificates and pet charge waivers.
Whenever you’re not flying, you will earn one tile per $100 spent on JetBlue trip packages and one tile per $1,000 spent on any JetBlue bank card, together with the JetBlue Card and JetBlue Plus Card. This implies you possibly can attain primary Mosaic 1 standing with $50,000 in card spending in a 12 months or top-tier standing after spending $250,000 in your JetBlue playing cards in a 12 months.
JetBlue Card
Details about the JetBlue Card has been collected independently by CNBC Choose and has not been reviewed or offered by the issuer previous to publication.
Rewards
3X factors per greenback spent on eligible JetBlue purchases; 2X factors at eating places and eligible grocery shops; 1X factors on all different purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 10,000 bonus factors after you spend $1,000 on the cardboard within the first 90 days.
Annual charge
Intro APR
Eligible steadiness transfers that put up to your account within the first 45 days of account opening qualify for 0% introductory APR for the primary twelve billing cycles, then a 20.24% to 29.99%, APR applies.
Common APR
20.24% to 29.99% variable
Stability switch charge
Overseas transaction charges
Execs
- No annual charge
- No overseas transaction charges
- Intro-APR provide for steadiness transfers
Cons
- No free checked luggage
- Fewer companion airways to redeem factors with in comparison with different main frequent flyer applications
JetBlue Plus Card
Details about the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by CNBC Choose and has not been reviewed or offered by the issuer previous to publication.
Rewards
6X factors per greenback spent on eligible JetBlue purchases; 2X factors at eating places and eligible grocery shops; 1X factors on all different purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus factors after you spend $1,000 on the cardboard and pay the annual charge within the first 90 days with the JetBlue Plus Card.
Annual charge
Intro APR
0% APR on eligible steadiness transfers that put up to account inside 45 days of account opening, for the primary 12 billing cycles; 20.74% to 29.99% variable thereafter relying on creditworthiness
Common APR
20.74% to 29.99% variable
Stability switch charge
Both $5 or 5%, whichever is larger.
Overseas transaction charges
Credit score wanted
Execs
- 5,000 bonus factors in your account anniversary
- 10% rebate on all redeemed TrueBlue factors
- First checked bag free for you and as much as three companions
- 50% off in-flight purchases
Cons
- $99 annual charge
- No airport lounge entry
FAQs
What is the best method to earn airline standing?
When you do not fly continuously, the best method to earn standing is mostly by spending on the airline’s co-branded bank card. When you could have an airline bank card that helps you earn elite standing, your non-travel purchases can transfer you nearer to the subsequent standing tier.
Are you able to earn standing by flying different airways?
You may earn miles and elite standing credit score on your most popular airline if you fly eligible companion airways. This may be with alliance companion airways and non-alliance companions, simply you’ll want to credit score the flight to the frequent flyer account you wish to earn standing with.
Is airline standing price it?
Even for the occasional flyer, elite standing perks can prevent cash. You may usually have the ability to benefit from perks comparable to precedence check-in, free checked luggage, bonus miles on paid flights and upgrades.
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For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card, click on right here.
Editorial Observe: Opinions, analyses, opinions or suggestions expressed on this article are these of the Choose editorial workers’s alone, and haven’t been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any third occasion.
