Alaska Airlines wins top honors in a comparison of elite status levels. (Photo: Alaska Air)
Is it possible to compare one airline’s elite status requirements and benefits to another’s? Most frequent travelers will usually devote their mile/point accumulation to the hometown airline they fly the most by default. But a new study takes a fresh look at elite status to see which airlines are the most generous.
And the overall winner – across three of the four status tiers – is Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan, according to ThePointsGuy.com, a specialist in travel loyalty programs.
How is it possible to compare the elite benefits of six airlines (Alaska, American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Southwest)? The site assigned various weights to all the categories of perks that come with elite status levels, ranging from 25 percent for in-flight perks like upgrades, preferred seats and free amenities to 5 percent for special reservations treatment (priority phone line and enhanced award availability). Also in the mix are airport perks, fee waivers, bonus earning potential, partner perks, flexibility of benefits and non-flying perks like crossover deals with hotel companies.
ThePointsGuy.com looked at all those elements tier by tier across the six airlines. For low-tier elites (based on 25,000 flight miles and $3,000 in spending), Alaska’s MVP status came in first, followed in order by American’s Advantage Gold, Delta’s Silver Medallion and United’s Premier Silver. (JetBlue and Southwest don’t have a comparable elite status at this level, the site noted.)
The site said the primary reason for Alaska’s high ranking is “the fact that Alaska still awards miles based on flying rather than spending.” Alaska MVP members get a 50 percent earning bonus on flights, or 12,500 miles – worth an estimated $237.50 – on 25,000 flight miles in a year. By contrast, the spending-based regimes at the Big Three return only 6,000 bonus miles on $3,000 in spending, worth an estimated $72 to $90 at the three airlines, the site estimated.
American’s AAdvantage Gold members benefit from fee waivers. (Image: Jim Glab)
Benefits of AAdvantage Gold that put American in second place were priority security access and waiver of the $75 same-day standby fee and the $75 award-processing fee for short-notice award bookings for lowest-tier elites, the site said.
For mid-level elites (50,000 miles/$6,000), United came in second behind Alaska, followed by Delta, American, JetBlue and Southwest, in that order. Alaska’s MVP Gold status at this level provides a generous 100 percent earning bonus, well above its competitors. The site also gave kudos to Alaska MVP Gold and JetBlue Mosaic status for fee waivers on flight changes and cancellations. Part of the reason for United’s second-place showing was its offer of free Marriott Gold reciprocal status to its MileagePlus Premier Golds.
Delta’s Comfort+ seating offers extra legroom and other perks. (Image: Delta)
For high-tier elites (75,000 miles/$9,000), Delta came in second after Alaska by virtue of its superior in-flight perks like a longer upgrade window (120 hours before departure vs. 72 at others), free access to preferred seats and extra-legroom economy seats, and upgrades on award travel.
It’s only at the very highest tier level (125,000 miles/$15,000) that Alaska drops out of first place, although the status requirements aren’t as comparable at this level. In any case, the study gives first place to United’s Premier 1K for “consistently rewarding status across all categories” including enhanced award availability in both cabins, free drinks and snacks on board and 12 upgrades (six regional and six global).
You can read the full report here, and along with an interactive feature that lets you input your own mileage and spending, along with the importance you assign to various benefits, to see which elite program is best for you.
Which airline elite level program works best for you? Why? Please leave your comments below.
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I crossed American’s Million Mile threshold in 1996.. The best perk for me used to be flashing the card and impressing young ladies with tales of jetset travel to exotic lands, debonair soirees, and the hint of intrigue. Helped to keep the bed warmer at night and have company for breakfast. Alas, I am now fat, bald, and boring. The perk that matters to me now is early boarding, so that I can waddle down the aisle without too many ladies pointing and laughing.
I’m a United Million Mile lifetime gold flyer because of international travel. Although Alaska’s benefits are admittedly better than United’s, it doesn’t help if Alaska doesn’t fly to where and/or the time of day I need to go, either domestically or internationally. (And I have used my United Gold status to get reciprocal status on Alaska.)
I also received a free upgrade to “soft” Polaris business class on my last flight from Japan back to the US (i.e., cheap coach ticket, used zero frequent flyer miles). The occasional free very long-haul free upgrades do engender loyalty…
United 1 Million Miler grants the flier (and someone living at the same address) minimum Premier Gold status for life. (You can always fly 75K miles or more and meet the higher spending threshold for higher status.)
Similarly 2 Million Miler gets Premier Platinum status. A 3 Million Miler gets Premier 1K status.
I hit 1 million miles on United a few years ago, but my flying has slowed down. I don’t know if I’ll ever reach 2 million miles.
Chris, don’t you mean in the photo that *Alaska* Gold members benefit from fee waivers? I think you have the wrong photo/airline there. I’m an Alaska Gold and do get fee waivers. I’m also an American Platinum and don’t get fee waivers so if American really does give them out, please enlighten me! 🙂
the free drinks and snacks on board and 12 upgrades (six regional and six global) are only if you are also Premier 1K in that year.
I totally agree. The SWA Companion Pass is fantastic, and if you work at it, can be achieved by flying a relatively normal number of times and putting your spend on the SWA card. Double bonus: use the SWA shopping mall to accrue even more points that count toward Companion Pass status! Then, pay for your ticket with the points, and use the Companion pass for your Companion.
I am a million mile flyer on United and enjoy getting economy plus on calling, plus getting to check two bags for free. Even better is getting the same status for my wife.
You report that a million mile flyer gets:
“enhanced award availability in both cabins, free drinks and snacks on board and 12 upgrades (six regional and six global)”
I have been a million mile flyer over a year and haven’t gotten any of those “perks” am I doing something wrong???
I still think the best award is given out by Southwest, by brother-in-law reached a status in which he can take his wife along on any flight he takes for free.
Now to me that’s a great perk.