Frequent flyer elite status benefits - Revision history

Editor: /* Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances */

2021-10-28T02:32:19Z

‎Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances

Editor: /* Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances */

2021-10-28T02:31:51Z

‎Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances

Editor: /* Airport lounge access */

2021-10-28T02:31:22Z

‎Airport lounge access

Editor: /* Better economy seats */

2021-10-28T02:29:49Z

‎Better economy seats

Editor: /* Premium cabin upgrades */

2021-10-28T02:24:45Z

‎Premium cabin upgrades

Editor at 02:16, 28 October 2021

2021-10-28T02:16:17Z

Editor: Editor moved page Frequent Flyer Elite Status Benefits to Frequent flyer elite status benefits without leaving a redirect

2021-02-19T04:39:08Z

Editor moved page Frequent Flyer Elite Status Benefits to Frequent flyer elite status benefits without leaving a redirect

Editor at 22:41, 12 February 2021

2021-02-12T22:41:09Z

Editor: /* Premium cabin upgrades */

2021-02-07T19:44:51Z

‎Premium cabin upgrades

Editor: /* Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances */

2021-02-07T19:28:09Z

‎Overview of elite status benefits with the major alliances

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 !style="width: .5in;"|United
 !style="width: .5in;"|Delta
-!style="width: .5in;"|AA / Alaska
+!style="width: .5in;"|AA
 |-
 | colspan="4" style="background-color: ghostwhite;" |Access to better seats

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 !style="width: .5in;"|United
 !style="width: .5in;"|Delta
-!style="width: .5in;"|AA
+!style="width: .5in;"|AA / Alaska
 |-
 | colspan="4" style="background-color: ghostwhite;" |Access to better seats

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 {{List|label}}
-{{Label|Oneworld / American}}
+{{Label|Oneworld / American / Alaska}}
-Mid-level elites, from any Oneworld airline, get access to most Oneworld lounges. Only high-level elites get access to first class lounges. The benefit extends to one travelling companion. As noted above, American Airline elites don’t get access to American Airline lounges, when flying on domestic itineraries.
+Mid-level elites, from any Oneworld airline, get access to most Oneworld lounges. Only high-level elites get access to first class lounges. The benefit extends to one travelling companion. As noted above, American Airline and Alaskan Airlines elites don’t get free access to American Airlines or Alaska lounges, when flying on domestic itineraries.
 {{Label|SkyTeam / Delta}}
@@ Line 422: / Line 422: @@
 {{Label|Star Alliance / United}}
 Mid-level elites, from any Star Alliance airline, get free lounge access at almost all Star Alliance lounges, but only if you are departing out of the airport (as opposed to on arrival).  This benefit extends to a single travelling companion. As noted above, United elites don’t get access to United lounges, when flying on domestic itineraries.
 {{/List|label}}
 </ul>

@@ Line 371: / Line 371: @@
 {{List|label}}
 {{Label|American / Oneworld}}
-When flying on American Airlines, mid-level elites from any Oneworld program get free access to enhanced economy seats (“Main Cabin Extra”), at the time they make their reservations. Low-level elites get a 50% discount. if they want to pay for them ahead-of-time, and get free access to any remaining seats when they check-in for the flight. This benefit extends to 8 companions. There are no upgrades or preferred seating on basic economy fares.
+When flying on American Airlines, mid-level elites from any Oneworld program get free access to enhanced economy seats (“Main Cabin Extra”), at the time they make their reservations. Low-level elites get a 50% discount if they want to pay for them ahead-of-time, and get free access to any remaining seats when they check-in for the flight. This benefit extends to 8 companions. There are no upgrades or preferred seating on basic economy fares.
 When flying on other airlines, Oneworld elite members usually get the same access to enhanced and preferred seating, as the airline’s own elite passengers. Even low-level elites should get at least some kind of preferred seating, but it varies depending on the airline.
@@ Line 389: / Line 389: @@
 {{Label|Alaska}}
-All Alaska elites are entitled to enhanced economy seats “premium class”). These seats come with free drinks and better food. High-level elites are immediately upgraded, if seats are still available when they make their reservation, mid-level elites are immediately upgraded on most fares, and low-level elites are immediately upgraded on the highest priced fares. Mid-level elites, who weren’t upgraded earlier, can access any remaining seats 72 hours before departure, and low-level elites get access 48 hours before departure. Mid-level elites can extend the benefit to a single companion, low-level elites can’t. All elites have access to preferred seating in the regular economy section.
+All Alaska elites are entitled to enhanced economy seats “premium class”). These seats come with free drinks and better food. High-level elites from Alaska and AA are immediately upgraded, if seats are still available when they make their reservation, mid-level elites are immediately upgraded on most fares, and low-level elites are immediately upgraded on the highest priced fares. Mid-level elites, who weren’t upgraded earlier, can access any remaining seats 72 hours before departure, and low-level elites get access 48 hours before departure. Mid-level elites can extend the benefit to a single companion, low-level elites can’t. All elites have access to preferred seating in the regular economy section.
 {{Label|JetBlue}}

@@ Line 314: / Line 314: @@
 {{Label|American}}
-The upgrade system at American primarily uses “500-mile” upgrade coupons. A coupon is needed for every 500 miles you are traveling on your flight. A coupon isn’t needed for flights under 500 miles.
+The upgrade system at American primarily uses “500-mile” upgrade coupons. A coupon is needed for every 500 miles you are traveling on your flight. A coupon isn’t needed for flights under 500 miles. Elite members receive four coupons for every 12,500 qualifying miles, and can purchase more for $40 each.  Higher-level elites get unlimited upgrade coupons. You can use these certificates on flights within the United States, and to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
 Upgrades start getting processed for Executive Platinum members 100 hours before departure time, then for Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold members at 72 hours, 48 hours, and 24 hours, prior to departure. A single travelling companion can be upgraded with you, and Executive Platinum members are eligible for upgrades even on award tickets.
 Platinum Pro members can select a "systemwide" upgrade with their choice benefit and Executive Pro can select 2 upgrades with either or both of their choices. These upgrades can be used on a one-way flight to pretty much anywhere that AA flies.
@@ Line 344: / Line 345: @@
 Upgrades start getting processed for MVP 75K members 120 hours prior to departure, and for Gold and MVP members at 72 hours, and 48 hours. Gold members can get a single companion upgraded along with them.
 Gold level members also get four “Gold Guest Upgrade” certificates. Each is good for a one-way flight, are confirmed before the normal assignment window, and can be used by the elite flyer, or given to another person.

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 <ul class="bulletlist">
-<li>'''Airlines typically have three or four elite status levels'''. The specific names for the levels differ for each program, but the benefits are usually somewhat comparable. “Low-level” status is typically earned for flying 25,000 miles per year. “Mid-level” status is typically earned for flying 50,000 miles per year. And there can be multiple tiers of “High-level” status earned for flying 75,000, or more, miles per year. When an airline has a fourth tier, it is almost always requires 100,000 miles per year.</li>
+<li>'''Airlines typically have three or four elite status levels'''. The specific names for the levels differ for each program, but the benefits are usually somewhat comparable. “Low-level” status is typically earned for earning 25,000 qualifying miles per year. “Mid-level” status is typically earned for earning 50,000 qualifying miles per year. And there can be multiple tiers of “High-level” status earned for earning 75,000, or more, qualifying miles per year. When an airline has a fourth tier, it is almost always requires at least 100,000 qualifying miles.</li>
 {{Image|AAStatusLevels.jpg}}

← Older revision	Revision as of 04:39, 19 February 2021
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 {{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|frequent flyer benefits}}}}
-{{Page|article|Airfare Strategies}}
+{{Page|article|air elite status|best programs}}
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 <li>'''For most people, the most sought after elite benefit is the possibility of getting a free upgrade to business or first class'''. On paper, most frequent flyer programs give this benefit to all their elite members, regardless of status level.</li>
-<li>'''In practice, it is nearly impossible to get upgraded with only low-level status, it is very hard to get upgraded with mid-level status, and upgrades aren’t reliable even with high-level status'''. Note that you only get premium cabin upgrades on the airline that you have status with, not with the other airlines in the alliance.</li>
+<li>'''In practice, it is nearly impossible to get upgraded with only low-level status, it is very hard to get upgraded with mid-level status, and upgrades aren’t reliable even with high-level status'''. Note that you only get premium cabin upgrades on the airline that you have status with, not with the other airlines in the alliance (with the exception of Alaska and American's unique partnership).</li>
 {{ImageX|FirstClassMeal.jpg}}
-<li>'''The likelihood of getting premium cabin upgrades has changed dramatically in the past few years'''. Airlines have been much more aggressive about selling their premium cabin seats, leaving far fewer empty seats available for elite flyers. Premium seat pricing has dropped. Over 40 airlines accept bids for premium cabin seats, and auction off any remaining seats, about a week before the flight. As upgrades have gotten less common (and prices have dropped), more people are choosing to book directly into premium cabin seats, reducing the number of unsold seats even further.</li>
+<li>'''The likelihood of getting premium cabin upgrades has changed dramatically in the past few years'''. Airlines have become much more aggressive about selling their premium cabin seats, leaving far fewer empty seats available for elite flyers. Premium seat pricing has dropped, reducing the number of available seats. And as upgrades have gotten less common, more people are choosing to book directly into premium cabin seats, reducing the number of unsold seats even further.</li>
-<li>'''The general process for handling upgrades is similar across different airlines'''. Until close to departure time, airlines will make only a limited set of their premium cabin seats available for upgrades. In other words, there may be ten unsold first-class seats on the plane, but only two of them are available for upgrades. Airlines can change the number of seats available for upgrades at any time, and will adjust them based on how their ticket sales are going.</li>
+<li>'''The general process for handling upgrades is similar across different airlines'''. Until close to departure time, airlines will make only a limited set of their premium cabin seats available for upgrades. In other words, there may be ten unsold first-class seats on the plane, but only two of them might be available for upgrades. Airlines can change the number of seats available for upgrades at any time and will adjust them based on how their ticket sales are going.</li>
 <ul>
-<li>'''People can upgrade to these seats, ahead of time, using special upgrade certificates, and/or frequent flyer points'''. If no upgrade seats are left, they can add themselves to a wait list, to take advantage of any new seats that become available.</li>
+<li>'''People can upgrade to these seats, ahead of time, using special upgrade certificates, and/or frequent flyer points'''. If no upgrade seats are currently available, they can add themselves to a wait list to take advantage of any new seats that become available later.</li>
-<li>'''When it gets close to departure time, the airline starts processing any remaining upgrade space, that hasn’t already been claimed'''. This is where “unlimited free upgrades” comes into play. On many flights, there will be no upgrade space left, even though there may still be some premium seats available for sale.  But, if there are still upgrade seats available, the airlines will start giving them to their highest-level elites around 4-5 days before departure. If, somehow, there are still upgrade seats available, they will move onto lower-level elites, as it gets closer and closer to the departure day. Everyone who doesn’t get a seat, during this window, is automatically added to the wait list.</li>
+<li>'''When it gets close to departure time, the airline starts processing any remaining upgrade space'''. This is where “unlimited free upgrades” comes into play. On many flights, there will be no upgrade space left, even though there may still be some premium seats available for sale.  But if there are still upgrade seats available, the airlines will start giving them to their highest-level elites around 4-5 days before departure. If, somehow, there are still upgrade seats available, they will move onto lower-level elites, as it gets closer and closer to the departure day. Everyone who doesn’t get a seat, during this window, is automatically added to the wait list.</li>
-<li>'''Before the flight leaves, many airlines (including American, Delta, and United) will make any remaining unsold premium cabin space available for upgrades'''. Multiple new seats usually become available, which the airline had been holding back (to potentially sell). The wait list is prioritized by a number of factors, with elite status level the most important, and those passengers get free upgrades to any remaining seats.</li>
+<li>'''Before the flight leaves, many airlines (including American, Delta, and United) will make any remaining unsold premium cabin space available for upgrades'''. Multiple new seats usually become available that the airline had been holding back (to potentially sell). The wait list is prioritized by a number of factors, with elite status level the most important, and those passengers get free upgrades to any remaining seats.</li>
 </ul>
@@ Line 314: / Line 314: @@
 {{Label|American}}
-The upgrade system at American primarily uses “500-mile” upgrade coupons. A coupon is needed for every 500 miles you are traveling on your flight. A coupon isn’t needed for flights under 500 miles. Elite members receive four coupons for every 12,500 qualifying miles, and can purchase more, for $40 each.  Higher-level elites get unlimited upgrade coupons. You can use these certificates on flights within the United States, and to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
+The upgrade system at American primarily uses “500-mile” upgrade coupons. A coupon is needed for every 500 miles you are traveling on your flight. A coupon isn’t needed for flights under 500 miles.
 Upgrades start getting processed for Executive Platinum members 100 hours before departure time, then for Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold members at 72 hours, 48 hours, and 24 hours, prior to departure. A single travelling companion can be upgraded with you, and Executive Platinum members are eligible for upgrades even on award tickets.
-Executive Platinum members also get 4 “systemwide” upgrades, each good for a one-way flight to pretty much anywhere that AA flies, and can earn up to 4 more with increased levels of EQMs. If there is available space, you can use these upgrades to confirm an upgraded seat, ahead of the normal assignment window.
+Platinum Pro members can select a "systemwide" upgrade with their choice benefit and Executive Pro can select 2 upgrades with either or both of their choices. These upgrades can be used on a one-way flight to pretty much anywhere that AA flies.
 {{Label|Delta}}
@@ Line 325: / Line 326: @@
 Upgrades start being processed for Diamond and Platinum members 120 hours before departure, then for Gold and Silver members at 72 hours, and 24 hours.
-Delta doesn’t have an equivalent of American’s systemwide or United’s regional and global upgrades.
+Delta Platinum members can choose 4 regional upgrades with their Choice benefit. Delta Diamond members can choose either 4 global or 8 regional or 2 global and 4 regional upgrades with any or all of their choices. Regional certificates can only be used on flights in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Global upgrades can be used on any flights including many flights on KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Korean Air, and Aeromexico.
 {{Label|United}}

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 |<nowiki>-</nowiki>
 {{/Table}}
 === Premium cabin upgrades ===