How to get airline elite status without taking (many) flights

Do you love flying but don’t have the time or money to fly as much as you want? Or are you just starting your travel journey and are coveted airline elite without taking (as many) flights as possible? You may also want to get the status level. Regardless of your situation, there are ways to earn status with airlines without constantly flying to level up-Up.

Participate in status match or status challenge programs

One way to earn airline elite status without ever flying is to join a Status Match or Status Challenge program. Many airlines offer these programs as a way to get customers of other airlines to transfer and try out their services. Status match and status challenge programs offered by hotels.

In most cases, simply show proof of your current elite status from another airline and you will be matched to the same level of status in the new program. You may be required to complete a certain amount of flights within a specified period to maintain your status, or you may be granted status for the remainder of the year and must requalify organically. Sometimes there are.

In some cases, you may not even need to have airline status to participate in a status challenge.

Take advantage of credit card benefits

Another way to achieve airline elite status without ever flying is to take advantage of certain credit card benefits. Some credit cards allow you to earn elite qualifying miles on co-branded airlines. Unfortunately, you usually have to spend quite a bit to gain airline status with just a credit card payment, but if you’re close, it can be a good way to cross the threshold.

american airlines

American Airlines offers the ability to earn it Loyalty points per dollar spent on any credit card. To qualify for American’s lowest status tier, American AAdvantage Gold status, you must earn 30,000 loyalty points.

delta airlines

With Delta, you can earn Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) with a variety of credit cards.

• Delta SkyMiles Platinum Cardholders can earn 10,000 MQMs on $25,000 spent in a calendar year and an additional 10,000 MQMs on $50,000 spent in a calendar year with the Delta Platinum Card.
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders can earn 15,000 MQM up to four times in a calendar year when spending $30,000 on the card. In total, a Delta Reserve cardholder can earn up to 60,000 MQM after he spends $120,000 or more in a calendar year.

united airlines

United offers several ways to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) with your credit card.

• The United Explorer Card and United Business Card offer the ability to earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQP in a calendar year.
• The United Quest Card offers 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to a maximum of 3,000 PQP in a calendar year.
• The United Club Infinite Card earns 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to a maximum of 4,000 PQP in a calendar year.

Southwest Airlines

To earn status in Southwest, you need to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQP). This can be done with a few credit cards.

• The Southwest Premier Card, Southwest Priority Card and Southwest Performance Business Card all earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent annually, with no limit on the number of TQPs you can earn.

All Southwest Card spend Southwest Companion Pass.

jetblue airlines

JetBlue offers the ability to flatten the cost of earning status through credit cards. Earn JetBlue Mosaic status by spending $50,000 in a year on your JetBue Plus card.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier credit cardholders get one Earn eligible miles for every dollar spent with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

spirit airlines

Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard Cardholders Get One situation-Qualification Points (SQP) for every $10 spent on the card.

Speaking of American Airlines…

American Airlines is currently one of the easiest US airlines to obtain status. Not only do credit card payments count towards your status loyalty points requirement, many other activities also count. likewise. You will earn loyalty points.

• American, its oneworld partner, flies with JetBlue
• Use your AAdvantage credit card
• eat out A Advantage Dining
• buy online through e-shopping portal
• Join with other qualified partners such as SimplyMiles

Whether it’s worth getting elite airline status depends on your personal circumstances, but not having to fly just to qualify can make a difference. We offer another way to earn status besides flying. You might get the status without flying at all, but whether it’s worth it is up to you.