If you fly frequently, you know the value of having airline elite status. Free checked bags, priority boarding, assistance when things go wrong, and complimentary upgrades can really make travel more comfortable.
Qualifying for elite status year after year, however, has become more difficult. In addition to flying the required number of elite qualifying miles, some airlines have added levels of hefty spending requirements (elite qualifying dollars) in order to achieve any level of elite status.
It can be easier to qualify for elite status with the help of an airline credit card. While none of the major domestic air carriers offers a credit card that offers complimentary airline elite status, there are credit cards that do offer a faster path to elite status.
Being a cardholder and spending on specific airline-branded cards can earn you miles that help you qualify for elite status. You may also earn elite qualifying dollars on certain airline-branded credit cards that count towards elite status revenue requirements or earn a waiver of those spending requirements.
Let’s take a look at the airline-branded cards that can expedite your path to airline elite status and explain how the process works for each card.
Delta Air Lines
Medallion Elite Status Qualifications
In order to attain Medallion elite status with Delta, you must fly a specified number of Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) or segments (MQS) each calendar year and meet the annual revenue (MQD) requirement.
The revenue requirement (MQD) is met by purchasing paid tickets or award tickets and then flying on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance partners. The base fare plus a portion of taxes and fees count toward the MQD requirement. Basic economy class tickets do not earn miles or credit toward elite status.
Another avenue for earning some of the required MQMs is by spending on Delta-branded credit cards. You can also earn a waiver of the MQD requirements for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion level statuses by spending on your qualifying Delta-branded credit cards.
Top-level Medallion elite status comes with free systemwide upgrade certificates, Delta Sky Club lounge access, waived fees for changes or cancellations, complimentary upgrades, and much more.
How Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards Can Help You Qualify
Let’s take a look at each of the Delta-branded credit cards that earn MQMs and/or offer the ability to waive the MQD requirement for certain Medallion elite levels.
| Delta-branded Credit Card | Earning Elite Qualifying Miles | Waiver of MQD Requirement for Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion Status |
|
| Spend $30,000 in a calendar year on the card and earn 15,000 MQMs, up to 4x | Spend $25,000 in a calendar year on the card |
|
| Spend $25,000 in a calendar year on the card and earn 10,000 MQMs, up to 2x | Spend $25,000 in a calendar year on the card |
MQD requirements are only for those Medallion members who have a U.S. address.
To earn an MQD waiver for top-level Diamond Medallion elite status, you must spend $250,000 in a calendar year on any of the cards in the above table.
In addition to earning MQM from spending on your Delta credit card, there may be an MQM earning offer included in a Delta credit card’s welcome bonus. In addition to bonus miles, the new cardholder would earn MQM after meeting the minimum required spending in the first 3 months after card approval.
These offers vary but are typically around 5,000 to 10,000 MQM.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card alone, cannot earn the MQD waiver. However, if you do have another Delta SkyMiles-branded card listed in the above table that does qualify for the waiver, additional spending on the Delta Gold card and Delta Blue card will count toward the MQD waiver.
Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards Snapshot
American Airlines
AAdvantage Elite Status Qualifications
American Airlines has simplified the path to elite status with the introduction of the Loyalty Points program. For each $1 you spend on any co-branded American Airlines credit card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point which will count toward your elite status.
| AAdvantage Gold | AAdvantage Platinum | AAdvantage Platinum Pro | AAdvantage Executive Platinum |
| Loyalty Points Required | 40,000 | 75,000 | 125,000 | 200,000 |
These cards also offer a faster path to elite status:
| American-branded Credit Card | Loyalty Points |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard®* | Earn up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points after qualifying spend each status qualification period. |
| AAdvantage Executive World Elite card | Earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases during the qualifying status year. |
* The AAdvantage Aviator Silver card is not open to new applicants but can be requested as a product change once you have an AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.
The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card comes with premium travel benefits such as Admirals Club lounge access for the cardholder, immediate family members, or up to 2 guests plus authorized users. The card also comes with priority boarding, and a free checked bag.
Hot Tip: Use your AAdvantage-branded Mastercard or other Mastercard to shop via SimplyMiles or the AAdvantage eShopping portal to earn more elite-qualifying Loyalty Points and reach elite status even faster!
American AAdvantage Credit Cards Snapshot
United Airlines
United MileagePlus Elite Status Qualifications
Each calendar year, the MileagePlus frequent flyer member must complete the required levels of activity to qualify for United Premier elite status. The first requirement is to meet the appropriate amount of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and/or Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).
| Status Level | Earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) | and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) | …or Meet a Higher PQP Goal |
| Premier Silver | 12 | 4,000 | 5,000 |
| Premier Gold | 24 | 8,000 | 10,000 |
| Premier Platinum | 36 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
| Premier 1K | 54 | 18,000 | 24,000 |
Top-level United Premier 1K members receive complimentary PlusPoints that can be used to upgrade domestic and international paid flights, plus cancellation or award fee waivers, and more.
Hot Tip: We also have 2 in-depth dedicated posts for what United MileagePlus elite status is worth — one in terms of perks prior to departure and at the airport and another for benefits related to seating and upgrades.
How United MileagePlus Credit Cards Can Help You Qualify
United credit cardholders can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) through their annual credit card spend. For every $12,000 spent on your qualifying United-branded card, you will receive 500 PQP. Maximums apply depending on the card.
United MileagePlus Credit Cards Snapshot
Air Canada
Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status Qualifications
Aeroplan frequent flyer members have several levels of elite status for which to strive. Requirements include meeting both flying and Status Qualifying Dollar (SQD) levels in a calendar year.
Here are the various Aeroplan elite levels and the requirements for each one.
| Qualifications | 25K | 35K | 50K | 75K | Super Elite |
| Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) | 25,000 or 25 | 35,000 or 35 | 50,000 or 50 | 75,000 or 75 | 100,000 or 100 |
| Status Qualifying Dollars | $3,000 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 | $20,000 |
How the Aeroplan® Credit Card Can Help You Qualify
As an Aeroplan cardholder, you will receive Aeroplan 25K elite status just for holding the Aeroplan card. Your status begins when you are approved and continues for the remainder of that year and for the entire following calendar year.
To maintain your 25K Aeroplan elite status, just spend $15,000 in a calendar year on the card. Or, you can qualify by meeting the SQM/SQS and SQD requirements listed above.
Spend $50,000 in a calendar year on the card and receive a status boost of 1 level up from your qualification level. For example, if you qualified for 25K in a calendar year, you would be bumped up to 35K.
25K elite members receive priority seat selection, 50% discount on preferred seats, priority check-in/boarding/standby, 2 free checked bags, and Star Alliance Silver recognition. Additionally, 25K members receive select benefits that can include upgrade credits, bonus Aeroplan points, reduced reward pricing, and more.
Aeroplan Card Snapshot
Hot Tip: Learn more about the best ways to use your Air Canada Aeroplan points, check out this list of options.
JetBlue
JetBlue Elite Status Qualifications
There are 4 levels of JetBlue Elite status that can be earned by spending on travel, spending on a JetBlue credit card, or by a combination of both (through earning JetBlue tiles).
- Earn 1 tile for every $100 in qualifying spend on JetBlue flights, JetBlue Vacations, Paisly by JetBlue, JetBlue extras and fees, and American Airlines flights.
- Earn 1 tile for every $1,000 in eligible JetBlue credit card purchases.
You can earn JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic elite status each calendar year by flying, using a JetBlue credit card, or both. To earn status, you either need to hit the travel spend minimum or the credit card spend minimum or the tile requirement.
| Status Level | Spend on Travel | Spend on Credit Cards | Tile Requirement |
| Mosaic 1 | $5,000 | $50,000 | 50 |
| Mosaic 2 | $10,000 | $100,000 | 100 |
| Mosaic 3 | $15,000 | $150,000 | 150 |
| Mosaic 4 | $25,000 | $250,000 | 250 |
JetBlue Mosaic status comes with free checked bags, waived cancellation or change fees, priority boarding, bonus points, and free alcoholic beverages onboard. You also receive a dedicated customer service phone line.
How JetBlue TrueBlue Credit Cards Can Help You Qualify
You can earn JetBlue Mosaic status simply by spending $50,000 or more in a calendar year on The JetBlue Plus Card or The JetBlue Business Card.
JetBlue TrueBlue Credit Cards Snapshot
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Rapid Rewards Elite Status Qualification
Here’s what it takes to qualify for Rapid Rewards elite status with Southwest Airlines:
| Rapid Rewards Elite Status Level | Calendar Year Qualification Requirements |
| A-List | 25 one-way qualifying flights OR 35,000 tier qualifying points |
| A-List Preferred | 50 one-way qualifying flights OR 70,000 tier points |
| Companion Pass | 100 one-way qualifying flights OR 135,000 qualifying points |
A-List Preferred members receive priority check-in, boarding, and security lane access. Free onboard Wi-Fi, 100% bonus points for flights, and the ability to stand by for other same-day flights are also valuable benefits of being A-List Preferred.
A Companion Pass allows a member to purchase a ticket and add a preselected companion for the cost of just taxes and fees. The pass can be used unlimited times during the valid time period for which the member has qualified.
Hot Tip: Are you a frequent flyer with Southwest? If yes, see our complete guide to the best credit cards for Southwest flyers.
How Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards Can Help You Qualify
Rapid Rewards-branded credit cards earn qualifying tier points, when spending on the cards, that count toward elite status and bonus points that count toward the Companion Pass. In addition, anniversary points granted when you renew your Rapids Rewards credit card count toward Companion Pass status.
The generous sign-up bonus you receive after meeting minimum spending requirements in the first 3 months you have the card also counts toward Companion Pass requirements.
There are several ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points that count toward the Companion Pass and free flights. To review some creative ideas and learn more about the Rapid Rewards loyalty program, you’ll want to check out our guides.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards Snapshot
Bottom Line: Southwest Airlines elite status offers several benefits, but the Southwest Companion Pass has become a holy grail of travel and a sought-after perk for those who frequently fly Southwest Airlines.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines Elite Status Qualifications
Frontier Airlines has 3 tiers of status in its FRONTIER Miles program. Here’s how you qualify for each level during any calendar year:
| Status Level | Requirements |
| Elite 20K | Fly 20,000 miles or 25 segments |
| Elite 50K | Fly 50,000 miles or 50 segments |
| Elite 100K | Fly 100,000 miles or 100 segments |
Top-level Elite 100K status includes priority boarding, priority security, award and travel fees waived, discounted lounge access, and a bonus mileage multiplier.
How the Frontier Airlines World Card Can Help You Qualify
Earn 1 Elite Qualifying Mile for every dollar spent on the Frontier Airlines World card. Having the card also opens up the option to pool miles between family members. In addition, you’ll earn 5 reward miles per dollar spent on the card, 3x miles for dining, and 1 mile on all other purchases. Another benefit to this card is that when you spend $2,500 on the card each year, you’ll earn a $100 flight credit.
Hot Tip: Because you earn 1 Elite Qualifying Mile for every dollar spent on the Frontier Airlines World card, you could qualify for elite status just by spending on the card.
Final Thoughts
If you frequently travel on several airlines and elite status isn’t important to you, you may fare better with a premium travel rewards credit card. These cards offer benefits such as worldwide lounge access, accelerated earnings on all airlines, a large card welcome bonus, and travel statement credits.
The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are 2 such alternatives to consider if an airline-branded card isn’t right for you.
But, if you frequently fly 1 particular airline, you can experience additional benefits, earn frequent flyer miles quickly, and even enjoy a faster path to elite status, by having that airline’s branded card. Many airline-branded credit cards also come with elite-style benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, waived fees, companion tickets, and more.
The information regarding AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the JetBlue Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding The JetBlue Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
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2 comments
T. Nielsen
December 07, 2019
I am a graduate student and my program just announced that we can pay tuition with a credit card without any convenience fees. I will be traveling frequently next year around the United States and I’m looking for the best points card to get the most “free” flights. I will spend about $53,000 a year in tuition so cards with signup bonuses and “tiers” are in my sights. I have excellent credit and already have a Capital One Venture card, but looking for something that I can get more out of. Suggestions?
Christine Krzyszton
December 07, 2019
Hello T.Nielsen and congrats on establishing a fine credit history. The Capital One Venture card is going to earn you 2 miles per dollar spent so that card will work well for paying tuition. It also allows you to transfer points to airline partners for potentially greater value when redeeming for free award flights. However, it makes sense to utilize some of that spending towards securing a new card welcome bonus. It can also be beneficial to earn a variety of rewards currencies. You might want to check out our list of the best travel rewards cards and see which one fits your tolerance for paying an annual fee, has a generous welcome bonus, offers benefits you can use, and aligns with your spending. /credit-cards/travel-rewards-credit-cards/ and this article on first-time rewards cards: /best-first-credit-cards Thank you for reading.
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