Anybody have any idea how to get a cheap/free elite status for an airline? Any promotions that give you free status?
Any tricks to get elite airline status?
Lwhytd on 04/11/2013 - 14:33
Comments
Any non-ethical way of doing it?
eg. The accor way of getting to Platinum, and then status matching them to other brands?
There aren't any easy ways to get useful airline status without actually flying a lot - the only way to earn status credits/miles/points is by flying. It's not the same as hotel chains as there is no such thing as instant status offers or status matches in the airline industry.
There are occasional exceptions, but these are more of the fast tracked challenge type (i.e. you still need to fly on a fair bit to hit the challenge requirement to get the status) or the targeted variety (where you usually need to have high enough status with another airline to begin with (status matches) or have flown with the respective airline a fair bit beforehand to make use of the offer)
Cheapest "free" way = get yourself a job that has lots of flying that your company pays for. I have a FIFO friend who has both VA and QF platinum thanks to his weekly flights in/out.
work for a airline, get 10% flights…..
No status credits on staff travel. I just went from Silver back down to Red. :(
Sorry but only a true FF junky could get sadface about lack points when the flights are 90% off!!
yeah but when ur paying only 10%..
It's a bit more than 10% but yeah I'd rather have my cheap flights than status.
If I recall, these are standby tickets right donga?
I always travel standby but we can get confirmed tickets on most flights for around double the price.
No free way that I know of.
Obscure ways like joining Agean Airline's FF programme - yeshttp://www.ausbt.com.au/how-to-get-star-alliance-gold-vip-st…
read ausbt.com.au and there might be a free upgrade or direct offer. Then there might be some elite status matching promotion with another airline.
The problem with trying to quick-cut elite status is the fact that you often have to fly on the metal (or the actual plane) of the operating airline. Thus, it's difficult to randomly select an obscure airline and then try and get elite status.
For example, consider Oneworld (of which Qantas and BA are a part of). To reach Platinum Status with Royal Jordanian, which is Oneworld Emerald, you need to fly a reasonable 55,000 miles (considering American Airlines will only give you Oneworld Sapphire for 50k flown).
BUT
Under the rules to qualify: Travel a minimum of 42 Segments (at least 12 Segments must be flown on Royal Jordanian flights).
So this doesn't work for a lot of us Aussies, so unfortunately, most of us will have to stick with Qantas.
Aegean is great for Star Alliance. Low threshold (20k miles for Gold, but this is quite high for once a year travellers). But be aware that you do have to fly either Thai, Singapore, Asiana or Air NZ to enjoy any of the perks when in Australia (EVA if you're based in Brissy).
Skyteam is a bit more difficult. You can always pool your miles to Delta (as they never expire) if flying with China Eastern, China Southern, China Airlines or Vietnam Airlines (dep-Australia wise). It won't get you any elite status anytime soon, but the ticket price of Skyteam members are generally quite low, so you can do a double status run for often two-thirds the price of a Star or Oneworld ticket.
Non-aligned airline-wise, Virgin are ok. Silver perks are decent with them, as are Etihad.
You can request a status match, BUT keep in mind that it's a once-per lifetime thing, you can't keep matching status with the same airline to enjoy the perks and never actually fly with them.
I generally think lower tier status are enough for a lot of people. Silver membership often gets better check-in, extra weight, and sometimes, priority boarding too, so you don't need to fly 100k to enjoy some benefits :)
It's usually
Find obscure airline that's part of a global program
Do a big trip with them, gain status
Game a whole lot of status-match offers