Make mileage run; earn elite status
If you’re a frequent flier, it’s time to take a look at your mileage for the year to see whether you can make elite status.
While the benefit varies, carriers offer perks such as priority check-in and boarding, free upgrades, companion ticket offers, preferred seating, bonus miles and discounts on airport-club memberships.
The major carriers usually offer three tiers of elite level, with the entry level requiring 25,000 miles or 30 flight segments, the middle 50,000 miles or 60 flight segments, and the top 100,000 miles or 100 flight segments. These requirements must be met each calendar year.
One way to make elite status is a mileage run: a trip designed to maximize miles earned.
You might consider a long weekend in London. We’ve been seeing better prices recently, with round-trip fares around $500, including taxes and fees. You’ll earn about 9,500 miles, even more if you route yourself through another city or two or three.
We’ve also seen flights to Tokyo for under $700, which will earn you close to 13,000 miles round trip. You’ll want to complete travel by Dec. 17, when the Christmas rush begins and fares rise.
While most travelers prefer to fly nonstop, if you’re doing a mileage run, indirect routing can pay. Most carriers allow you to make up to four stops each way. Make sure your flights have a change of planes or a change of flight numbers; otherwise, the air miles will be calculated between your departure city and your arrival city and you won’t get actual miles flown.
See www.webflyer.com/travel/milemarker for an air mileage calculator.
Other cheap options to consider are last-minute packages. We also may see discount fares for travel on Thanksgiving Day and return on the next day.
If you have elite status but you move to a different city, consider contacting the frequent-flier desk of the major carrier for your new residence. For example, if you’re a Northwest WorldPerks elite flier from Detroit who has moved to Dallas, call the AAdvantage desk and ask them for elite status in their program.
When you see bonus miles offers, keep in mind that most elite programs require you to meet the requirements with actual miles flown. US Airways is now an exception, offering elite status with a variety of car-rental and hotel partners and on FTD purchases, with the airline’s “Everything Counts” promotion. The program runs through Dec. 31.
While Southwest doesn’t offer elite status, it does provide a free companion pass to travelers who fly 50 round trips or those who earn 100 credits with Southwest and partners in a year. The companion pass is valid for one year, and the companion listed on the pass may be changed up to three times during the year.
If you travel on Frontier Airlines, you can reach elite status with a lower number of miles. The carrier offers Ascent Level for just 15,000 miles and Summit Level for 25,000 miles.
If you think you can reach elite status, check your carrier’s Web site for requirements, qualifying partner airlines and any special promotions. Log those miles by the end of the year so you can go for the gold.