Jun
23
2019
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Spend 4000 Miles for Elite Status
elite
Tag Archives for elite.
Why Southwest’s Cattle Car Boarding is Great for Business Travelers and Elites
Jun
12
2019
Last year American Airlines CEO Doug Parker explained in detail why his airline would never provide the flexibility that Southwest does. He called Southwest “the cattle car” and said Southwest doesn’t “have a lot of business customers on their airplanes.”
That certainly hasn’t been my experience.
Have Elite Status With an Airline or Hotel? You Can Have SkyTeam Status, Too.
Dec
17
2018
Right now SkyTeam member and Delta partner Aerolineas Argentinas is promoting an aggressive new status match offer. They will give you a year of elite status based on the status you have with another airline (that is not a part of the SkyTeam alliance) or a hotel chain. Willingness to match against, say, Hilton Honors is unique, easy, and aggressive.
SkyTeam elite status makes travel easier on Delta.
USAirways Offers Buyup to Trial Elite Status
Jul
18
2007
USAirways and most other airlines have offered status matches — a way to pilfer the best customers of other airlines. Elite status with an airline usually locks a customer into flying that airline. They get upgrades, bonus miles, and other perks. How can they give that up, even to change to another airline? Airlines make it easier for customers to switch by advancing status to customers who already have it with a competitor — if I were an American Platinum member I could get Continental to give me Gold status right away so I’d still have elite benefits when I switched. (The definitive discussion of the subject is a Flyertalk thread I started in October, 2003 that’s still going strong.) Most US domestic airlines offer status matches of one kind or another. American has long…
USAirways/America West Extends Elite Status
Feb
11
2006
USAirways and America West haven’t quite gotten their act together combining their two frequent flyer programs. They don’t want to send out new elite membership cards under the old programs and can’t send out new cards under the combined programs (which count status from having flown both airlines) until they’re further along with integration. So they’re extending everyone’s elite status in the meantime. If your status was set to expire or be downgraded on February 28th, you have a reprieve. If you were counting on combining last year’s flying from both carriers to boost your status, you’ll have to wait. An email like the following was sent to current elite members: As a valued Gold Elite member, we want to make you aware of some important information about your membership. The new Dividend Miles program…
Two Elite Changes at American
Dec
15
2005
American AAdvantage Gold elite status can be obtained for 25,000 miles or 30 segments. Platinum is 50,000 miles or 60 segments. (Both can also be obtained via a fasttrack challenge.) However, Executive Platinum has been obtainable only by flying 100,000 miles — so segment qualification existed for the “EXP” level. Supposedly American will announce shortly that next year they’ll introduce segment qualification for their top elite level. Just like United, 100 segments flown in a year will earn top-tier elite status. American has also announced a price increase for 500-mile segment upgrades. They’ll go from $25 to $30 when purchased online or at a kiosk. Over the phone or otherwise ‘assisted’ the price will be $35.
Frontier Introduces Miles for Merchandise for Elite Members
Jun
30
2005
Frontier Airlines has launched a new feature for its frequent flyer program allowing elite members to redeem points for merchandise: the More Store. Frontier Ascent and Summit Early Returns members (those who fly at least 15,000 miles a year) will be able to trade miles for jewelry, rounds of golf, restaurant meals, luggage, sporting events, overnights at the Brown Palace and tickets by visiting www.frontiermorestore.com …The Web site also has an online auction feature, with items including a new Mercedes M- Class SUV with a starting bid of 10,000 miles. More Store perks partners include restaurants such as Jax Fish House, Tamayo, Zengo, Panzano, Lola, Aix, Luca D’Italia, The Palm, Rioja and Opus. Frontier frequent fliers can trade miles for rounds of golf at Bear Dance, Green Valley Ranch, The Raven, Pelican Lakes and Arrowhead,…
Airline Elite Beyond Elite
May
10
2005
Chris Elliott’s latest column, published in today’s New York Times is on airline status beyond the published benefits of elite frequent flyer programs. The gist is that high spenders receive rewards greater than those provided to an airline’s 100,000 mile flyers. On United and on other airlines, members of the secretive, invitation-only clubs are met at the airport by employees and whisked past the check-in line. They wait for their flights in unmarked V.I.P. lounges and are offered liberal upgrades and personalized attention by airline employees. And at a time when airlines are obsessed with improving their on-time records, it is not uncommon for a plane to be held for a super-elite member who is stuck in traffic. Chris gets some of the details wrong. He says that the Global Services designation requires only $20,000…
