Tag: Travel Planner

Earning airline elite status can bring a variety of benefits for frequent travelers — and Delta Air Lines Medallion status is no exception. However, last fall, the carrier announced major changes to how you earn elite status in the SkyMiles program, and those changes are now live.

In short, there’s just a single metric for qualification now: Medallion Qualification Dollars. And in making this change, Delta has also overhauled how credit cards can help in your pursuit of status.

Related: The 5 Delta SkyMiles Amex changes I’m most excited about

Here’s how you can spend your way to Delta Medallion status in 2024 without even setting foot on a plane.

Delta Medallion status requirements

As noted previously, you now qualify for Delta status based solely on MQDs (gone are Medallion Qualification Miles and Medallion Qualification Segments). Delta’s original announcement featured high thresholds, though these were softened a bit for 2024 in response to customer backlash.

Here are the current requirements to earn Delta Medallion status in 2024:

• Silver Medallion: 5,000 MQDs
• Gold Medallion: 10,000 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion: 15,000 MQDs
• Diamond Medallion: 28,000 MQDs

On most Delta-marketed tickets, you’ll earn 1 MQD per dollar spent (minus the taxes), though you will not earn on basic economy fares. You may also earn more than 1 MQD per dollar on partner-issued tickets credited to Delta SkyMiles. However, these earning rates were largely cut as of Jan. 1. Be sure to check  Delta’s website to find out how many MQDs you’d earn when flying a partner-marketed flight.

Related: The best credit cards to reach elite status

Earn Medallion status with credit cards

In previous years, select Delta credit cards allowed you to earn Medallion Qualification Miles based on spending. Now that MQMs have been retired, the carrier has overhauled how to use these cards to accelerate your progress toward status.

In short, Delta now allows you to earn MQDs across four of its cobranded cards with American Express. The exact details vary from card to card, but there are two general ways to use these cards to accelerate your progress to Medallion status.

MQD Headstart

In early February, Delta implemented a new perk called MQD Headstart for the following cards:

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

For each of these cards in your wallet, you’ll now receive a one-time deposit of 2,500 MQDs at the beginning of each qualification year. This puts you halfway to Silver Medallion status — though if you have two cards, you’ll automatically hit Silver Medallion before you even set foot on a Delta plane.

In addition, travelers with the Delta Reserve card prior to Feb. 1 received an extra 1,000 MQDs this year. I currently hold that card, and I received an email Feb. 1 with the subject “Updates To Your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card” and the following details:

This means existing Reserve cardholders received a total of 3,500 MQDs in 2024 — though this will drop back to 2,500 MQDs starting in 2025.

However, the ability to earn status on these cards doesn’t end there.

New status boosts

As mentioned previously, Delta Platinum and Reserve cardholders could previously earn bonus MQMs based on spending. That perk ended as of Jan. 1. Instead, you can now earn MQDs based on spending:

• Delta Platinum and Delta Platinum Business cards: Earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.
• Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cards: Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent.

The terms of this perk indicate that it can take eight to 12 weeks for the MQDs to hit your account. However, I’ve found that it’s been much faster, as my first purchases of 2024 (both on Feb. 5) were posted to my SkyMiles account just two days later.

These status boosts (coupled with the MQD Headstart) mean that you can effectively spend your way to status each year since there’s no limit to the MQDs you can earn each year on these four cards.

For example, let’s say you have a personal Delta Reserve card. Every year, you’ll receive 2,500 MQDs. You can then earn 1 MQD for every $10 you spend on the card. This means you can unlock Medallion status with the following spending thresholds:

• $25,000: Silver Medallion (2,500 MQDs from spending; 2,500 from the head start)
• $75,000: Gold Medallion (7,500 MQDs from spending; 2,500 from the head start)
• $125,000: Platinum Medallion (12,500 MQDs from spending; 2,500 from the head start)
• $255,000: Diamond Medallion (25,500 MQDs from spending; 2,500 from the head start)

Now, there’s no debating that all of these numbers represent a lot of spending. At the low end, it’s still more than $2,000 per month, while reaching Diamond status requires more than $21,000 in monthly spending! In addition, these Delta cards offer comparatively poor earning rates on most purchases. When it comes to earning valuable rewards, you’d likely be better off with a top credit card for everyday spending.

Nevertheless, the majority of Delta cardholders likely fly with the airline at least somewhat frequently. In that context, spending on your Delta card can close the gap to a higher tier of status.

Should you get a Delta credit card to spend your way to status?

If you’re not currently a cardholder, the ability to earn status with spending could be a powerful incentive to get one.

For example, let’s say you spend $7,000 per year on Delta flights, with a combination of business and leisure travel. Without a Delta card, you’re looking at Silver Medallion status since $7,000 in spending translates to 7,000 MQDs. However, if you applied for the Delta Reserve card, you’d get a one-time boost of 2,500 MQDs, leaving you just 500 MQDs short of Gold Medallion status. You can earn those MQDs with just $5,000 in spending on the card since you’re earning 1 MQD for every $10 spent.

In addition, now is a great time to consider one of these cards, as they launched limited-time, elevated welcome offers (to coincide with an overhaul of their benefits):

• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in spending in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends March 27.
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after $8,000 in spending in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends March 27.
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after $6,000 in spending in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends March 27.
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 110,000 bonus miles after $12,000 in spending in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends March 27.

Related: Best Delta credit cards

More ways to earn Delta status quickly

Beyond getting (and using) these four Delta cards as a shortcut to Medallion status, there are a few other ways to earn MQDs outside of flying.

Utilize a status challenge

In early 2024, Delta launched a new status challenge for elite travelers with other airlines. If you haven’t participated in a Delta challenge in the last three years and earned status with another carrier last year, you may be eligible for complimentary Medallion status (up to Platinum) for three months. Then, if you accrue a set number of MQDs during that three-month window, your status will be extended through Jan. 31, 2026.

Earn on award travel

When you book Delta (or partner) flights using SkyMiles, you’ll earn 1 MQD for every 100 SkyMiles you redeem. This means a 20,000-mile award ticket will net you 200 MQDs.

Remember that you also get a 15% discount on Delta-operated award flights as a Delta cardholder.

Earn with Delta Vacations

Last year, the Delta Vacations platform was overhauled, and you now earn 1 MQD for every $1 spent across the entire package (excluding taxes and fees). You also earn redeemable miles when booking this way.

Limited-time MQD offers

Finally, Delta will occasionally offer limited-time methods to earn MQDs for select activities. For example, through Feb. 29, you can earn 1 MQD for every dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Delta Stays (with a checkout date on or before May 31).

Just be aware that this is a third-party booking site, which means that you wouldn’t be eligible to earn hotel points or utilize elite benefits by booking a property that’s part of a major hotel loyalty program.

Bottom line

There are lots of ways to earn Medallion status without boarding a plane. Through the airline’s cobranded credit cards, you can spend your way to multiple elite status tiers.

While most travelers will likely blend the above credit cards with some actual flying, it’s nice to know that you can use multiple Delta American Express cards to boost your Medallion qualification prospects.

We’ve screamed praises of Qatar Qsuite from the rooftops — and it’s not hard to see why.

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite seats come with closable doors. You and a travel buddy can turn your side-by-side lie-flat seats into a double bed; a family of four can book a cluster of seats that allows them to all face each other in a gigantic private suite. Pair this with top-notch service, onboard dining and inflight entertainment, and you have one of the most aspirational premium-cabin products in the travel world.

Qatar is currently offering fall award space for Qsuite at a steep discount of 70,000 Avios, one-way out of Miami International Airport (MIA).

You can find this by searching for flights to Qatar’s home base of Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) via British Airways Executive Club.

JetBlue, a Qatar partner, also has Qsuite award space starting at 80,000 TrueBlue points.

This deal was first reported by Find Flights For Me.

Now, the big caveat here is that if you want to connect to another key destination out of Qatar’s Doha hub, you’ll likely need to book a separate itinerary. That could be an option if, for instance, you plan to make a brief stop for a day or two in Doha and then use a smaller number of Avios (or pay outright) for a flight to the Maldives or elsewhere in Qatar’s network.

At the same time, if flying in a Qsuite has been on your travel bucket list, this could be a great chance while the award pricing is more approachable.

Deal basics

Airline: Qatar Airways

Routes: From Miami to Doha

Cost: Starts at 70,000 Avios (plus $126.05), one-way, in Qatar Qsuite

How to book: Use Avios through British Airways Executive Club

Travel dates: September through early December

When to book: As soon as possible, before award space dries up

Related: Fly Qatar business from the US to South Africa for 75,000 miles

Sample itineraries

The Qsuite deals generally span the fall months. So, your best bet is to search September, October and November, and even early December. You’ll want to search business-class award space.

There certainly isn’t business-class award space every day, so this isn’t necessarily a deal for those already with set-in-stone travel plans; it’ll be a matter of where you can find it.

Here’s an example: a late-September departure from Miami, with a return a week later in October. The round trip goes for 140,000 Avios, plus $252 in taxes and fees.

For peace of mind, you may feel compelled to at least check Qatar’s website to ensure the aircraft scheduled for your flights does, in fact, offer Qsuite for its business-class accommodations.

To do this, hop over to Qatar’s booking channels, run a quick search, and find your flight. Indeed, it shows the 10:40 p.m. departure from Miami on Sept. 26 does, in fact, offer Qsuite.

It also offers Qsuite on the return trip.

JetBlue TrueBlue option

Another option for travelers who have a stash of TrueBlue points is to book the trip through JetBlue.

JetBlue award pricing we found starts just a bit higher, at 80,000 points one-way.

Earning the miles and points you need

Your best bet to accrue Avios is to transfer flexible rewards currencies to either British Airways Executive Club or one of its partners that also uses Avios.

For instance, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio. The same goes for Bilt Rewards points, Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

You could also convert points to Qatar, Aer Lingus or Iberia Avios and then transfer them again to British Airways.

One of the fastest ways to earn points is to open a new credit card with a welcome offer. For instance, right now, with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can earn 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Or, if you add the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler
• Best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

Spirit Airlines is postponing plans to fly to Mexico’s newest major airport before it’s even opened to international airlines.

In a statement to TPG on Wednesday afternoon, Spirit confirmed it is postponing the start of its planned service to Tulum’s Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO) indefinitely.

The carrier will be reaching out to customers with flights already booked to offer alternative flights or a refund, a spokesperson said.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

The airline blames the route postponement on ongoing operational constraints related to the defects on a number of Airbus A321neo engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney. Airline executives noted continued challenges posed by the defects during Spirit’s earnings call last week. Dozens of Spirit’s jets are grounded due to the ongoing issue, which has become a major head wind as Spirit tries to return to profitability — and forced the airline to make other route cuts in recent months.

Spirit was set to join a host of other major U.S. airlines in launching service to the new Tulum airport once it opens to international carriers March 28. The airport has been operating for domestic Mexico flights since December.

Spirit had plans to serve Tulum from both Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Ishrion Aviation was first to report the route cutback on social media, which TPG confirmed with the carrier.

“We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience,” Spirit said in a statement to TPG. “We look forward to the opportunity to serve Tulum in the future and will share more once we have an updated schedule.”

What other options do travelers have?

Spirit continues to offer service to Cancun International Airport (CUN), 70-plus miles from Cancun — or a drive of about two hours in typical traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, other U.S. airlines are moving forward with plans to fly to the new airport in Tulum.

As of April, American Airlines will serve Tulum from its hubs at Miami International Airport (MIA), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

United Airlines will fly to Tulum from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International Airport (IAH) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Its service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) launches later this year.

Delta Air Lines will offer nonstop service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Bottom line

Spirit sees this route postponement as just that — a temporary shuttering of its plans for Tulum service. As airline officials noted in their statement, the carrier hopes to reinstate Tulum plans once practical, offering travelers an option to fly to the new airport aboard an ultra-low-cost carrier.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

If you’ve been searching for a way to get the most bang for your buck on your next big trip, one of the best ways to do so is with airline credit card companion tickets.

In addition to helping travelers earn free flights by racking up frequent flyer miles, some airline credit cards offer companion certificates or discounts so cardholders can bring a companion along for free.

These aren’t your average BOGO deals, though. Some companion tickets are restricted to certain regions or cabin classes, while others are based on credit card spending or are only good for award tickets.

Here’s a look at the airline credit cards that offer companion tickets as a benefit and what you’ll need to do to earn and maximize them for your travels.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers a companion ticket through its cobranded credit cards. The personal and business versions come with a Companion Fare, which starts from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) and is reissued annually after spending at least $6,000 within the prior anniversary year.

Sometimes Alaska will offer an additional Companion Fare as part of a sign-up bonus.

Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card

Companion ticket benefit: The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card comes with a companion ticket benefit that’s one of the easiest to understand and use. Every year you carry this card and spend $6,000 within the prior anniversary year, you are entitled to an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees, usually about $23).

The rules stipulate that the primary traveler and their companion must be booked on the same itinerary. While the cardholder does not need to be one of the travelers, you must pay for the tickets using the corresponding Alaska Visa card.

The companion fare is valid for travel in economy only, and it must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date, but travel can take place afterward.

What’s great about this benefit is that both the primary traveler and the companion will earn full mileage credit for their flights. In addition, both tickets are eligible for upgrades if you have Alaska elite status or want to use a pair of the carrier’s Gold Guest Upgrades.

Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits: This card earns a considerable 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including ride-hailing purchase) and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else.

It has no foreign transaction fees and provides a free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and up to six other guests on the same reservation. Here’s our full card review.

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Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa

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Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card

Companion ticket benefit: The Alaska Airlines Visa Business credit card offers an identical companion ticket benefit: Spend $6,000 within the prior anniversary year and you’ll receive an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees, usually about $23).

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare; ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Annual fee: $70 for the company and $25 per additional card

Other benefits: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging stations, shipping and local transit, (including ride-hailing purchases) and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Receive a free checked bag for you and up to six companions. Here’s our full card review.

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Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa Business

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American Airlines

Barclays offers two different American Airlines companion tickets through its cobranded cards.

Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard

Companion ticket benefit: Every account anniversary, Aviator Red cardholders who spend $20,000 in a year will receive a $99 (plus taxes and fees) Companion Certificate for a round-trip domestic economy fare within the 48 contiguous United States. (Alaska and Hawaii residents can travel from their home state to the 48 contiguous states.)

Meanwhile, Silver cardholders can earn two of these certificates with $20,000 annual spending.

In either case, your account must remain open for 45 days after your anniversary date to qualify for the Companion Certificate.

Welcome bonus: The Silver is not available to new applicants. The Aviator Red is offering 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase and pay the $99 annual fee in full within 90 days.

Annual fee: $99 for the Aviator Red card; $199 for the Aviator Silver

Other benefits: The Aviator Red card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. The Aviator Silver card earns 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

Both cards offer a first free checked bag on domestic flights, priority boarding, inflight Wi-Fi credits and discounts on other inflight purchases.

The information for the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Silver and the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Delta

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Companion ticket benefit: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has offered one of the longest-standing companion ticket benefits, and it’s still one of the best options out there. It can be used for travel to all 50 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska), Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

You must pay taxes and fees, though they’re capped at $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and $250 for roundtrip international flights.

Welcome bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $350 (see rates and fees)

Other benefits: This card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Cardholders also earn 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Cardholders get a free checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same Delta flight reservation, plus 20% savings on inflight purchases and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.

You can find more details on the card in our full review.

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Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Companion ticket benefit: With its much higher annual fee, cardholders can expect a better companion ticket benefit with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Each year they renew, cardholders will receive a companion certificate good for one round-trip itinerary in first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin and, now, Premium Select on select eligible routes.

They’ll only be responsible for taxes and fees on the second ticket, up to $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and $250 for roundtrip international flights.

Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)

Other benefits: This card’s main benefit is that it offers Delta Sky Club access when traveling on flights marketed or operated by Delta. You also receive four one-time guest passes each year and can bring two guests for $50 each.

The card’s other benefits are mostly in line with those of the Platinum version. However, it also provides complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card. For more details, read our full review.

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

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Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex

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Delta business credit cards

Note that Delta offers business versions of the two personal cards listed above: the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. The companion ticket benefits on these cards are identical to their respective personal counterparts above, so if you have a small business, either could be a good option for traveling with a companion.

Related: Best Delta credit cards

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Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

Companion ticket benefit: The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard offers a one-time 50% companion discount to new cardholders. The companion discount is good for a full coach round-trip fare for a companion traveling on the same itinerary between Hawaii and North America.

Although this 50% off companion discount isn’t as great as some of the companion fares listed here, it still represents substantial savings for two people traveling together. In addition to this one-time 50% companion discount, cardholders are eligible for an annual $100 companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

Annual fee: $99

Other benefits: This card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store spending and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders get a free checked bag on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines and discounted award flights.

Additionally, cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees abroad and can share miles with friends and family without a fee.

For more information, check out our full review.

The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Southwest

Companion ticket benefit: Southwest’s famed Companion Pass is essentially an unlimited two-for-one pass on both paid and award tickets. It’s valid for the calendar year you earn it, plus the following one. You can achieve it by racking up 135,000 qualifying points or taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.

The good news is that sign-up bonuses and points earned by spending on Southwest’s cobranded credit cards count toward this qualification threshold. Some savvy spending can get you the Southwest Companion Pass faster than you think.

Welcome bonus: All three Southwest credit cards offer an identical sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn a Companion Pass® (good through 2/28/2025), plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Priority)

Other benefits: Despite their different annual fees, these three cards offer a similar suite of benefits.

The Priority comes with a $75 annual Southwest travel credit. The Premier and Priority cards offer the opportunity to earn Tier Qualification Points based on spending (1,500 for each $5,000 spent annually) and waive foreign transaction fees.

All three offer anniversary bonuses ranging from 3,000 points with the Plus to 7,500 with the Priority. Here’s a handy comparison of all three.

Small businesses can also earn points toward this perk. Points earned on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card also count toward the carrier’s Companion Pass.

International airlines

Of course, companion tickets aren’t just awarded to those with credit cards from U.S.-based airlines. Some international carriers offer cards with similar perks available to U.S. applicants. These could go a long way toward offsetting the costs of your next trip overseas.

British Airways

Companion ticket benefit: Travelers who hold the British Airways Visa Signature® Credit Card can earn the carrier’s “Travel Together” companion ticket every calendar year in which they spend $30,000 or more on purchases. This ticket is basically a two-for-one award ticket for round-trip travel on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights originating and ending anywhere these airlines fly. It can be redeemed for any class of service, though there are some restrictions.

Only one voucher can be earned per 12-month period. The cardholder and their companion must be on the same flight in the same class of service. You will be responsible for taxes and fees on both tickets, but only mileage for one will be deducted. The credit card account must also be open and in good standing when you redeem it.

Though this can be a great deal for saving on premium awards, remember that taxes and fees on British Airways tickets can add up. Luckily, cardholders are eligible for statement credits to offset these fees: $100 for economy and premium economy, $200 for business- and first-class seats. These credits can be claimed up to three times per year.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits: Besides the usual benefits like having no foreign transaction fees, the card offers contactless pay and the typical Visa Signature travel protections.

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Apply here: British Airways Visa

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Lufthansa

Companion ticket benefit: The Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard also offers a companion benefit — and the great thing is that you are eligible for it after your first purchase and automatically every year after your account anniversary.

That said, it’s only eligible for economy travel from the U.S. to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Far East. It applies only to H, M, Y or B fare codes. These are non-discount economy fares, which can be more expensive than the lowest-priced option. Cardholders must also pay all taxes and fees on both tickets, which can be hundreds of dollars.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.

Annual fee: $89

Other benefits: This card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on tickets purchased from airlines that participate in the Miles & More program, like Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. It earns 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else and carries no foreign transaction fees.

Cardholders receive two, one-time Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers upon first purchase, plus every account anniversary after the annual fee payment. If you’re going for Miles & More elite status, primary cardholders are eligible to convert award miles into status miles at a ratio of 5:1 for a maximum of 25,000 award miles.

The information for Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

In addition to welcome bonuses and travel perks, companion certificates can be a compelling reason to apply for an airline credit card. Before you do, though, review the terms and conditions carefully to make sure that you will be able to maximize this benefit’s value.

Many companion certificates are restricted to specific classes of service, geographical regions and time constraints, which can all limit their usefulness.

However, if you find one that matches your needs, a credit card companion certificate can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on airline travel each year and might be well worth it.

Read more: How to save hundreds on flights with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.

Here’s a way to travel to the airport in a bit more style … and at no extra cost.

JetBlue is offering a deal that could land you a free airport transfer aboard Blade, the helicopter service that will fly you from Manhattan to the airport in a matter of minutes.

Over the next week, travelers can earn a free Blade transfer when booking a flight in JetBlue’s premium Mint cabin to or from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Blade’s rides can get you to the airport in mere minutes, compared with the long wait travelers often find sitting in traffic or on public transportation en route to the airport.

Typically, the chopper transfers start at $195. Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue members who reach top-tier Mosaic 4 elite status earn four transfers as a loyalty perk.

So, this could be a great opportunity to try out the service, particularly if it’s something you’ve long had on your travel wish list.

Promotion details

The Blade promotion unveiled Tuesday is available for trips booked between now and Feb. 21, and taken between Feb. 15 and March 8.

Again, to qualify, you have to book a trip in JetBlue’s Mint cabin. Keep in mind, Mint isn’t available on many JetBlue aircraft; the airline offers it on transatlantic routes to Europe, plus other select routes within the U.S. and Latin America.

A big caveat: You’ll only earn a Blade ride if your flight arrival or departure at JFK or Newark is within the company’s hours of operation. Those hours shift slightly depending on whether you’re using Blade’s facilities at West 30th Street or East 34th Street, and whether you’re using JFK or Newark.

Generally speaking, though, the company operates on weekdays (save for very early mornings or late nights) and Sunday afternoons.

Check the specific hours of operation for Blade’s JFK and Newark service on its website if you’re booking a Mint ticket with this perk in mind.

If you book a round trip from New York as part of this promotion, you’d be eligible for two transfers — one to the airport ahead of your departure, and another back to Manhattan after you arrive.

Your free Blade ride is not transferable to another, later date.

Booking your Blade transfer

After booking your JetBlue Mint accommodations, you’ll receive an email with instructions for booking your helicopter transfer.

Once your travel day arrives, you can show up at the specific Manhattan departure lounge you booked — if it’s for a departure — before your five-minute ride to the airport. Upon landing at the airport, a Blade vehicle will whisk you off to the terminal.

If you’re using the service for an arrival in the New York area, Blade will coordinate on a terminal pickup and escort you to the departure lounge before your ride to Manhattan.

While each Super Bowl is unique, some things never change. And in this case, it means that the Kansas City Chiefs are again Super Bowl champions and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is again going to Disneyland.

Putting the iconic “I’m going to Disney” commercial together in the minutes after the game ends doesn’t look like the easiest job in television. There are edits to make, contracts to sign and the final game outcome typically isn’t known until the very end — especially in the event of overtime, like Sunday night.

But that hustle and subsequent quick-turn creation of the “We’re going to Disney!” commercial are as much a part of the modern-day Super Bowl experience as a flashy halftime show and buckets of chicken wings.

If you’ve ever wondered how this came to be, the iconic commercial got its start after the 1987 Super Bowl when winning quarterback Phil Simms was the first to take in a payday (reportedly $75,000 in 1987) in exchange for saying a couple of lines and taking a trip to Disney World.

The commercial, largely unchanged from its original version, has happened almost every year since.

And yes, the players who say the magical phrase really do go to Disney World or Disneyland, usually the very next day after the game. This year, Mahomes and family will head to Disneyland, the closer of the two U.S. parks to Las Vegas, where the 2024 Super Bowl was held.

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets 

If you’re ever at Disney World or Disneyland the day after the Super Bowl (again, whichever park is closer to the location of the Super Bowl is typically utilized), there’s a decent chance you’ll see a representative or two from the winning Super Bowl team take their place in a celebratory parade down Main Street, U.S.A., which will be held Monday at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Often, though not always, it is the MVP of the game that’s at either Disney World or Disneyland the next day.

If that sounds like something you want to be a part of, it’s never too early to start planning for next year, when the Super Bowl will be held in New Orleans, making Disney World a good candidate for the day-after celebratory parade.

Related reading:

• Best hotels near the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
• How to book a Disney resort room for less with DVC points
• Where to stay at Disneyland
• Why you might want to use a Disney Vacation Planner for your next trip

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

There are many ways to earn points and miles, from the obvious ones (like flying or spending on a credit card) to some that aren’t as well known (like online shopping portals). One of my favorite ways to earn more on purchases I was planning to make anyway is by signing up for airline dining rewards programs.

Most airlines have a dining rewards program that allows members to earn extra miles by using an enrolled credit card when paying their bills at participating restaurants, bars and clubs. It’s a very low-effort way to score extra rewards in addition to those you earn from your credit card.

Let’s discuss what you should know to maximize the American Airlines AAdvantage Dining program.

AAdvantage Dining overview

One of the best things about AAdvantage Dining is that once you set it up, you’ll earn extra miles whenever you eat at a participating restaurant. Head to the AAdvantage Dining website to register and link your credit card and AAdvantage account.

Even better, the AAdvantage miles you earn while dining count as base miles. This means they count as Loyalty Points, which can help inch you closer to American Airlines elite status.

You’ll only earn miles when dining at participating restaurants and paying with a linked card, but you can easily find participating restaurants on the AAdvantage Dining website. You can search for specific restaurants by name. However, I find it easier to type in a city or ZIP code and scroll through the list of nearby options.

You can link as many cards as you want to your AAdvantage Dining account, but you can only link each card to one dining rewards program. In other words, you can’t link your go-to restaurant card to the United Airlines MileagePlus Dining program and the AAdvantage Dining program.

It costs nothing to join AAdvantage Dining, and your membership will stay active as long as you have at least one qualifying dining experience every 36 months.

Related: Can you earn rewards with a dining rewards program and a credit card at the same time?

AAdvantage Dining earning rates

There are three different membership tiers in the AAdvantage Dining program:

• Basic member: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent if you opt out of email communication from AAdvantage Dining.
• Select member: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent if you opt in to email communication from AAdvantage Dining.
• VIP member: Earn 5 miles per dollar spent if you opt in to email communication from AAdvantage Dining and have already completed 11 qualified transactions in the current or previous calendar year. (Members start earning at the VIP level on their 12th qualified transaction.)

These membership tiers and earning rates aren’t connected to your American Airlines elite status. So, having AAdvantage elite status won’t help you earn more miles in the AAdvantage Dining program.

Miles will appear in your AAdvantage Dining account three to five days after a qualifying transaction. They should be posted to your AAdvantage account within one to two weeks of the transaction.

What cards to use

Depending on your status within the AAdvantage Dining program, you’ll earn anywhere from 1 to 5 miles per dollar spent at eligible restaurants. The good news is that these AAdvantage miles are in addition to any card rewards you’d earn on the purchase. The restaurant where you’re eating will still process your transaction, so you’ll want to use one of the best cards for dining. Some popular choices include:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 6 Hilton Honors points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

Alternatively, you might consider using a cobranded American Airlines credit card if you’re focused solely on earning American miles. However, these cards usually offer a lower return on dining than those mentioned in the list above.

If you have more than one card you regularly use when dining out, you may want to link them all to your AAdvantage Dining account to ensure you don’t miss opportunities to earn. I frequently switch between my American Express Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve, depending on whether I’m interested in earning Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points. So, I keep both cards linked to my account.

Related: Which purchases count as dining with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Bottom line

Whether you sign up with AAdvantage Dining or another dining rewards program, these programs offer an amazing opportunity to double dip and earn more rewards when dining out. If you eat out regularly and one of your favorite restaurants participates in AAdvantage Dining, you may easily earn VIP status and boost your earning rate significantly.

The AAdvantage Dining program is also great if you want to earn elite status with the American AAdvantage program, as most miles earned from the AAdvantage Dining program count as Loyalty Points. So, if you’re planning a work event or business meal, consider choosing a restaurant participating in the AAdvantage Dining program to rack up miles on your reimbursable expense.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card overview

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is IHG’s no-annual-fee card option. With this card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts as well as 3 points per dollar at gas stations, monthly bills and restaurants with this card. While the IHG Traveler Card offers some useful IHG-related perks, it may not be the best choice for you. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐1/2

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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IHG offers two personal cobranded Chase cards to help customers rack up points and maximize their stays. One of these cards is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. The IHG One Traveler Card certainly has more to offer to IHG loyalists than most no-annual-fee hotel cards, but it may not be your best choice.     

 The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is for travelers who want to earn IHG points on their purchases without incurring an annual fee. Specifically, this card is best if you stay with IHG frequently and will use the card’s fourth reward night benefit.

In particular, if you’re going to use one of your Chase 5/24 slots on an IHG One Rewards credit card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a better option for most people.

The recommended credit score for this card is above 670. Now, let’s take a closer look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you can decide whether it is right for you.

Related: Earn extra points at your favorite restaurants with IHG One Rewards Dining

IHG One Rewards Traveler pros and cons

Pros	Cons
No annual fee Great earnings rate at 5 points per dollar on IHG purchases Fourth-night-free perk	Redemption options outside of IHG properties provide low value Poor transfer rates to airline partners

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card welcome offer

Currently, the IHG Traveler Card offers a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. TPG values IHG One Rewards points at 0.05 cents each, making this bonus worth $500.

This isn’t quite the best offer we’ve seen on this card (120,000 bonus points), but it meets our criteria for an offer worth jumping on.

You may be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) if you satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Don’t currently have a personal (not business) IHG One Rewards card
• Haven’t earned a sign-up bonus on a personal IHG card in the last 24 months
• Are under Chase’s 5/24 rule

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

IHG One Rewards Traveler benefits

As with even the best no-annual-fee cards, the IHG One Traveler Card doesn’t offer many luxury perks. Here’s a quick overview of the card’s main benefits and perks.

Fourth reward night benefit

Each time you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights, every fourth night will cost zero points. Once you’re a cardholder, this discount will be automatically applied when you redeem IHG points for eligible stays.

Save 20% on point purchases

You’ll get a 20% bonus whenever you buy IHG points with your card. But you can’t combine this discount with other promotions, such as when IHG points are on sale. And IHG sometimes offers a much better 100% bonus when you purchase points. So, although I often buy IHG points when the 100% bonus drops the purchase price to 0.5 cents per point, I don’t find the 20% discount appealing.

Automatic Silver status (with a path to Gold)

IHG One Traveler cardholders will enjoy automatic Silver Elite status in the refreshed IHG One Rewards program. This tier includes a 20% bonus on hotel stays, priority check-in and points that don’t expire.

In addition, you can buy your way to Gold Elite status when you spend $20,000 on your card each calendar year. This tier includes a 40% bonus on hotel stays and rollover elite nights for status the following year.

No foreign transaction fees

Many credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees; however, there are few cards on that list without an annual fee. If you travel abroad frequently, it’s worth having at least one credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Related: How to maximize longer hotel stays by using a free night benefit

Earning points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

When you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you’ll earn:

• 5 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts (2.5% return, based on TPG’s valuations)
• 3 points per dollar at gas stations, monthly bills and restaurants (1.5% return)
• 2 points per dollar on everything else (1% return)

These returns aren’t great, even compared to other no-annual-fee cards.

The 2.5% return at IHG hotels and resorts isn’t bad. But you can do much better with numerous purchases using several sub-$100 annual fee cards. For example, the $95 annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar (for over a 4% return) on travel purchases. And the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns 2 miles per dollar for a 3.7% return on almost all purchases.

The IHG One Traveler Card also isn’t a good choice for most other purchases. After all, it only provides a 1.5% return at gas stations and restaurants, plus a 1% return on other purchases. Several simple, cash-back credit cards offer a 2% return on all purchases. For example, you can earn 2% per dollar on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay — with the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees).

Related: The best credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

There are many options for redeeming IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you’ll get the best value from your points when you redeem for IHG hotel stays.

TPG values IHG points at just 0.5 cents each. However, it’s possible to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get much more value from your points. Here are a few ways you can do so.

IHG has dynamic award pricing, but there are some good deals to be found. However, one downside to dynamic pricing is that you should more carefully consider when to use your points versus cash for a stay. I tend to use points when I can get better than 0.5 cents per point of value. And I almost always use points when I book a stay of four nights or longer to utilize the IHG One Traveler Card’s fourth reward night benefit. Conversely, I tend to use cash when IHG is offering a lucrative hotel promotion.

IHG One Rewards points can go a long way in some regions. Here are some of my favorite IHG properties in the U.S. bookable for 10,000 points. And, if you’re ready to travel internationally, here are some of the best international IHG properties bookable for 10,000 points.

You also can use a combination of Points + Cash to book stays. For a given room, you’ll typically see a chart with discounts from the full nightly award rate in increments of 5,000 points.

On a Points + Cash booking, you’re essentially buying the extra points needed to complete the redemption. So, if you cancel your room, your refund will be given solely in points. I rarely book Points + Cash rates since it’s usually a better value to use just points. However, it’s worth checking to see whether the math works out on each booking.

TPG senior credit cards editor Matt Moffitt likes to use his IHG One Rewards points for four-night award stays. Given he has the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, he gets the fourth night free on award redemptions. He usually targets Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties to stretch his points but occasionally splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.

Related: How to earn and redeem points with IHG One Rewards partners

Transferring points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

IHG One has more than 40 airline transfer partners, but we recommend avoiding this redemption option when possible. Points transfer at a nearly 5:1 ratio on the lower side. The transfer process is also cumbersome, as you cannot do it online and have to call the IHG One Rewards service center. IHG generally is slow to process points transfer; some have said it took up to six weeks for the points to transfer.

You can also transfer your points to other IHG One members starting at $5 per 1,000 points and free for Diamond and IHG Business Rewards Program members up to 500,000 points per calendar year.

Which cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

For IHG loyalists, you may not be enticed by hotel credit cards from other chains. However, other cards are worth considering as alternatives to the IHG One Traveler card.

• If you want more IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee and provides automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night award each account anniversary (worth up to 40,000 points), $50 of United TravelBank credit each year and reimbursement for your application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (available every four years). It also has higher earning rates than the IHG One Rewards Traveler. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
• If you want more flexible earnings: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee and earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to IHG 1:1 for redemptions — plus use them with other airline and hotel programs. Other key perks include a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 in annual hotel spending credits. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
• If you’re a business owner and want IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has benefits like the fourth night free and a free anniversary night perk, but will not count toward your 5/24 with Chase. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel credit cards.

Related: The best credit cards for IHG stays

Is the IHG One Rewards Traveler worth it?

If you stay at IHG properties a few times per year but want elevated perks when traveling, this card may be a nice addition to your wallet. Considering this card has no annual fee, this card is a no-brainer if you are below 5/24 and want entry-level IHG One status and the fourth night free when booking with points.

Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

Bottom line

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card isn’t a bad option. You’ll get a 2.5% return at IHG hotels and resorts and a few IHG-related perks for no annual fee. For travelers who infrequently visit IHG properties but want access to the fourth-night-free benefit, this is a solid addition to your wallet. However, if you’re looking for extra perks during your stays, you’ll be disappointed with this card’s limited benefits.

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Apply here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

If you fly with American Airlines and its partners, you may have — or be interested in earning — American Airlines elite status.

In early 2022, American AAdvantage revamped how you earn American elite status. Loyalty Points are the sole metric you must focus on when striving for a specific American Airlines AAdvantage elite status tier. Here’s what you need to know about American Airlines elite status and how to earn it.

What is American Airlines elite status?

American Airlines elite status gives extra perks and benefits to AAdvantage members who interact with the program frequently. These elite perks and benefits when flying American Airlines range from free checked bags to complimentary upgrades.

Unlike airline loyalty programs in which flying is the primary activity needed to earn status, American AAdvantage lets you earn Loyalty Points toward elite status through many activities unrelated to travel, including online shopping, dining and spending on cobranded American Airlines credit cards.

You can earn different American Airlines elite status tiers by accumulating set amounts of Loyalty Points each elite-qualification year, which runs for 12 months from March 1 through the end of February. The status you’ve earned based on the Loyalty Points accumulated by the end of each February will be valid through the end of the following March. Then, your Loyalty Points balance resets and you have 12 more months to earn Loyalty Points and requalify for status.

Related: Last-minute strategies for earning American AAdvantage elite status

American Airlines elite status tiers

You’ll find four published tiers of American Airlines elite status that you can earn via accumulating Loyalty Points during the 12 months starting each March 1:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

In addition to these tiers, there’s also the exclusive, invite-only Concierge Key status. However, American AAdvantage doesn’t publish any specific requirements for this status.

You’ll also earn Loyalty Point Rewards as you reach specific Loyalty Point thresholds. You’ll earn your first Loyalty Point Rewards choice after earning just 15,000 Loyalty Points within the 12-month qualification period following March 1.

Related: Your guide to American Airlines lifetime elite status

How to qualify for American Airlines elite status

To qualify for American Airlines elite status, you must earn the required number of Loyalty Points during each 12-month qualification period following March 1. As discussed above, you’ll need to earn 40,000 Loyalty Points for Gold status, 75,000 for Platinum, 125,000 for Platinum Pro and 200,000 for Executive Platinum.

We have a full guide to earning Loyalty Points. But, in short, you can earn two types of American Airlines miles: base and bonus. And while both base and bonus miles are redeemable, base miles also give you Loyalty Points. So, each time you earn a base mile with American AAdvantage, you’ll also earn a Loyalty Point.

You can earn American AAdvantage base miles through many different activities. Here’s a non-comprehensive list of some ways you can earn base miles (and hence Loyalty Points):

• Flights sold by American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia: Earn base miles based on your ticket’s base fare and carrier-imposed fees.
• Flights sold and operated by other American AAdvantage partners: Earn base miles based on flight distance and the fare class of your ticket.
• AAdvantage eShopping portal: Earn base miles when you click through the AAdvantage eShopping portal before making purchases with select merchants.
• SimplyMiles: Earn base miles when you enroll in SimplyMiles offers with participating merchants and then make eligible purchases.
• AAdvantage Dining: Earn base miles when you use an enrolled card to pay at participating AAdvantage Dining restaurants, bars and clubs.
• Rocketmiles and AAdvantage Hotels: Earn base miles when you book hotels through AAdvantage Hotels or Rocketmiles.

There are many other ways to earn American Airlines miles. However, check whether you’re earning base or bonus miles before you get too excited about how many Loyalty Points you’ll earn. Bask Bank mileage accounts are one example of an activity that earns only bonus miles — and hence no Loyalty Points.

Related: Times you won’t earn American Airlines Loyalty Points, even if you earn miles

American Airlines elite status benefits

American Airlines elite status comes with some valuable benefits. Here’s a look at some of the most noteworthy benefits, including how they differ by status tier.

Upgrades and better seats

American Airlines elite members get complimentary upgrades from Main Cabin to the next class of service on select American-marketed and -operated flights. These upgrades are unlimited and automatically requested but are based on availability and only apply to flights within the U.S. and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America. The upgrades include award tickets and can also apply to a companion traveling with you on the same flight.

However, members with different American Airlines elite status tiers can confirm these complimentary upgrades at different times. Executive Platinum members may have their complimentary upgrade cleared as early as 100 hours before departure, Platinum Pro members as early as 72 hours, Platinum members as early as 48 hours and Gold members as early as 24 hours.

American Airlines prioritizes upgrades — including complimentary upgrades, mileage award upgrades and systemwide upgrades — in the following order:

• AAdvantage status level (Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum and then Gold)
• Type of upgrade (handled independently until at the airport, where systemwide upgrades and mileage award upgrades come before complimentary upgrades)
• 12-month rolling Loyalty Points (updated daily)
• Booking code (W, P, Y, H, K, M, L, V, G, S, N, Q, O and then T)
• Date and time of the request

Members with American Airlines elite status — and up to eight passengers traveling with you on the same reservation — can select Preferred seats without any extra fees during booking or anytime after booking (based on availability). Preferred seats have standard legroom but are located in more desirable locations throughout the economy cabin.

Main Cabin Extra seats with up to 6 inches of additional legroom are also available to AAdvantage elite members for free (based on availability). However, AAdvantage Gold members will have to wait until 24 hours before check-in to select these seats free of charge (if available).

Mileage bonuses

American Airlines elite members get a mileage bonus when flying on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Gol Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc and Royal Jordanian.

The bonus is calculated based on the base miles earned on the flight, with different elite tiers earning the mileage bonus as follows:

• Gold: 40%
• Platinum: 60%
• Platinum Pro: 80%
• Executive Platinum: 120%

The mileage bonus is treated as base miles, so you’ll also earn Loyalty Points. As such, it’s easier for higher-tier AAdvantage elite members to qualify for a specific American Airlines elite status tier based on flights than a traveler with lower-tier status or no AAdvantage status.

Benefits at the airport

AAdvantage elite members enjoy — when available — Priority access at check-in, security and boarding. Specifically, Executive Platinum members board in Group 1, Platinum Pro in Group 2, Platinum in Group 3 and Gold in Group 4. Boarding with any of these groups usually means there’s still space in the overhead bin for your carry-on suitcase.

Elite members also get priority when standing by for a different flight on the same day of travel when flying to or from the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members can enjoy complimentary same-day flight changes on American when flying to or from the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada and select destinations in the Caribbean.

AAdvantage elites also enjoy complimentary checked bags: Gold members get one checked bag, Platinum members get two checked bags and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get three checked bags. Plus, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members and others on the same reservation get their checked bags tagged as Priority, which means their bags should be among the first to reach the claim belt.

In addition, your free checked baggage allowance is based on the higher of their status at booking or check-in. In other words, if you book a flight and then lose your status (or drop to a lower tier) by your check-in date, you’ll still receive the allowance of your status at booking. Likewise, if you book a flight and then reach a higher tier of status, you’ll enjoy the higher baggage allowance.

Other benefits

American Airlines elite status offers a variety of other perks, including the following:

• Perks on Alaska Airlines: Complimentary space-available upgrades, better seats and more
• Oneworld status: Gold gets Oneworld Ruby, Platinum gets Sapphire, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum get Emerald
• Earn American miles on Hyatt stays: AAdvantage elite members earn 1 base mile per dollar spent on eligible Hyatt stays
• Executive Platinum perks in Main Cabin: Executive Platinum members traveling in the Main Cabin can enjoy a complimentary alcoholic beverage and a snack on American Airlines flights with full drink service

Loyalty Point Rewards

Finally, although Loyalty Point Rewards aren’t tied to American Airlines elite status, they are tied to specific Loyalty Point milestones that you’ll inherently meet as you progress toward AAdvantage elite status. Here’s a look at the Loyalty Point Rewards you could choose as you progress toward the 200,000 Loyalty Points required for Executive Platinum status:

• 15,000 Loyalty Points: Group 5 boarding for the membership year plus a choice of Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding for one trip or five Preferred seat coupons. Starting with the new qualification year on March 1, 2024, 1,000 Loyalty Points will also be a choice.
• 60,000 Loyalty Points: Avis Preferred Plus status and a 20% Loyalty Point bonus with select partners for six months.
• 100,000 Loyalty Points: Avis President’s Club status and a 30% Loyalty Point bonus with select partners for six months.
• 175,000 Loyalty Points: A choice of two systemwide upgrades, 20,000 bonus miles (25,000 if you have an AAdvantage credit card), six Admirals Club one-day passes, a $200 trip credit ($250 if you have an AAdvantage credit card), carbon offset, $250 donation to select nonprofit organization, 15% award rebate (not offered in new qualification year starting March 1, 2024), two gifts of AAdvantage Gold status or 35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available if you have an AAdvantage credit card). Starting with the new qualification year on March 1, 2024, 5,000 Loyalty Points will also be a choice.

Remember that you must accrue all these Loyalty Points within the 12-month qualification period following March 1. But, for those who have no issues earning Loyalty Points, there are also more Loyalty Point Rewards you can earn at higher milestones. Check out the AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards page for more details on these high-threshold tiers.

Can a credit card help earn American Airlines elite status?

Having a cobranded American Airlines credit card is extremely helpful if you want to earn American Airlines elite status. Although the sign-up and category bonuses provide bonus miles — which won’t give you Loyalty Points — you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent with most AAdvantage credit cards. This means you can boost your Loyalty Point balance as you use your card for purchases and even qualify for American elite status from credit card spending alone.

Here’s a look at some of the currently available American Airlines credit cards:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Best for Admirals Club membership
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Best for paying no annual fee
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for earning 2 miles per dollar at gas stations and restaurants
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Best for earning 2 miles per dollar on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: Best for 25% back as statement credits when you use your card to purchase food and beverages on American-operated flights

If you value getting Admirals Club access, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is an excellent choice. But I like the Barclay AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard — which I got by upgrading my AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard — since it gives me up to $25 per day in statement credits toward food and beverages purchased on American-operated flights and lets me earn up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points when I meet specific spending thresholds within my status qualification period.

The information for the AAdvantage MileUp, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select, CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select, Aviator Red and Aviator Silver cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: American Airlines credit card spending now earns Loyalty Points based on purchase date

Is American Airlines elite status worth it?

American Airlines elite status is worth it for some travelers. For example, I’ve valued having Executive Platinum status since 2016 due to the domestic upgrades, waived checked bag fees, Priority check-in lines, systemwide upgrades and Oneworld Emerald status it provides. But, after struggling to earn Loyalty Points and reconsidering what I value in American Airlines elite status, this qualification period I’ll likely only requalify for Platinum Pro. In short, I decided the incremental value of Executive Platinum over Platinum Pro didn’t justify the extra costs I’d incur to earn the higher status.

It’s important to consider how much you’ll use your AAdvantage perks and the cost of earning American Airlines status. If you’ll organically earn American Airlines status through flights, then it’s likely worth earning. But if you’ll have to earn a significant number of Loyalty Points through other means, such as using the AAdvantage eShopping portal or spending on an AAdvantage credit card, there’s an opportunity cost to doing so. After all, you could earn more valuable rewards on another credit card or through another online shopping portal for some purchases.

Finally, if you’ll only use your American Airlines elite status perks occasionally or only need a specific perk, consider whether you can get what you seek through booking premium-cabin fares or getting a credit card that provides perks such as lounge access, preferred boarding and your first checked bag free on domestic itineraries. The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (see rates and fees) is a good option for Admirals Club access, while the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard and Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard provide a first checked bag free on domestic flights.

Bottom line

American Airlines offers four elite status tiers you can earn by accumulating Loyalty Points: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum. These tiers offer perks including Preferred seating, complimentary space-available upgrades on American Airlines and Oneworld perks on select partner airlines.

If you frequently fly with American Airlines, British Airways or Iberia on expensive paid fares or spend a significant amount on American Airlines credit cards or when shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, you’ll likely find it easy and worthwhile to earn American Airlines elite status. However, even lower levels of American elite status can provide significant value via Priority boarding and waived checked baggage fees — especially since these perks can extend to other travelers on the same reservation.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

One of the questions people often ask us is, “How much is a point or mile worth?”

The true answer varies from point to point and person to person. It also depends on your travel goals and how well you can maximize a particular loyalty currency. Still, some rewards credit cards are clearly worth more than others, and our goal is to give you a sense of how they stack up.

Historically, TPG has valued points and miles based on a combination of the price at which we would purchase the miles, award costs in the program (factoring in availability and fees) and our own expertise in the inner workings of the programs.

However, we now use extensive data for the top six U.S. airline loyalty programs to better estimate the value you should aim to get from your rewards (you can read our full breakdown of this methodology in our explainer post).

This month, our model showed a bit of variation with these numbers — though none of them were significant compared to previous runs of the data.

Looking for a convenient way to see all of your points and miles in one place? Download the free TPG app!

Note: These valuations are not provided by card issuers.

What are credit card points and miles worth?

Program	FEBRUARY 2024 (cents)	Latest news
American Express Membership Rewards	2.0	One Amex business card will lose 3 statement credits this year. You can save up to 50% on Amazon purchases by using just one Membership Rewards point.
Bilt Rewards	2.05	Bilt adds milestone rewards to its program.
Capital One	1.85
Chase Ultimate Rewards	2.05	Chase opened a new lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Citi ThankYou Rewards	1.8

What are airline points and miles worth?

Program	FEBRUARY 2024 (cents)	Latest news
Air Canada Aeroplan	1.5	Canadians will be able to earn Aeroplan points for health and wellness activities.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	1.5* (up from 1.4)	Alaska will fly to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) for the first time but is dropping other routes.
American Airlines AAdvantage	1.55* (up from 1.5)	American announced new flights from New York to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and new services to Australia and Brazil.
All Nippon Airways Mileage Club	1.4
Asia Miles	1.3
Avianca LifeMiles	1.7
Avios	1.5	British Airways is aligning Tier Point year-end dates for earning elite status.
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	1.2*	Delta will add futuristic first-class recliners to Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline’s 2024 status challenge is now live. The DOT is requiring Delta and Aeromexico to end their joint venture.
Emirates Skywards	1.2
Etihad Airways Guest	1.2
Flying Blue	1.2	Air France announced a new route to Phoenix.
Frontier Airlines Frontier Miles	1.1	Frontier introduced a new business-class fare that includes seat selection and carry-on baggage. The airline announced eight new routes from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	0.9
JetBlue TrueBlue	1.4*	JetBlue dropped Baltimore from its route map and cut several routes from New York. The airline suggests the merger agreement with Spirit Airlines could be terminated. JetBlue will introduce a new seat fee.
Korean Air SkyPass	1.7
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1.3
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards	1.4*	Southwest unveiled new seats and cabin designs. New welcome offers on Southwest personal cards now include a Companion Pass for a limited time only.
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit	1.1
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles	1.2 (down from 1.3 last month)	Huge devaluation coming on Feb. 16 with redemption increases of up to 100% — book your awards now.
United Airlines MileagePlus	1.45*	United targets some MileagePlus members to buy up to a higher Premier status. The airline announced several new summer routes to Alaska and Canada. United has begun depositing one-time PQPs for 2023 Premier members into MileagePlus accounts.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1.5	You can earn up to 10,000 bonus points on cash flights through June 30.

*Calculated using TPG’s revamped, data-backed valuations methodology launched in September 2023.

What are hotel points worth?

Program	FEBRUARY 2024 (cents)	Latest news
Accor Live Limitless	2.0
Best Western Rewards	0.6
Choice Privileges	0.6	Here are 28 hotels you can stay at for fewer points through April 15.
Hilton Honors	0.6	Hilton introduced new booking and travel benefits for smaller businesses. Hilton is considering acquiring the Graduate Hotels chain and announced it would begin partnering with Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
IHG One Rewards	0.5
Marriott Bonvoy	0.84	This new Marriott promo offers 1,000 bonus points plus and elite night credit each night.
World of Hyatt	1.7	Hyatt is losing Small Luxury Hotels to Hilton.
Wyndham Rewards	1.1	Wyndham announced a new lifestyle hotel concept dubbed Project HQ Hotels & Residences.

Points and miles news

If you were planning a Turkish Miles&Smiles redemption, you should book it immediately. The program just announced a significant devaluation to commence on Feb. 16, with significant price increases across the board and a frustrating new per-segment structure that means your sweet-spot award to Europe (previously 45,000 miles each way in business class) will cost 85,000-90,000 later this month.

For this reason, we have reduced our valuation of Miles&Smiles from 1.3 to 1.2 cents each this month.

The other big news came from Delta and American Express, as the duo launched major changes to their personal and business cobranded credit cards. With higher annual fees and a slew of new statement credits, it’s another indication of issuers moving their cards to more of a lifestyle value proposition — rather than just focusing on travel benefits.

In more positive news, Chase continues to disrupt the domestic airport lounge scene by opening two new lounges in New York.

First was the Sapphire Lounge by The Club at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), which TPG’s Zach Griff now considers the best lounge in the airport. It features a 360-degree bar, a photo booth and even a hidden speakeasy-style retro arcade. To elevate the experience even higher, three Reserve Suites can be booked separately, starting at an eyebrow-raising $2,300 for a three-hour slot.

Then, just a week later, Chase opened the Sapphire Lounge by The Club at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport Airport (JFK). This second airport takes over the former Etihad Airways lounge in Terminal 4. While not as jaw-droppingly good as the new LaGuardia lounge, it is still a step up from your average Priority Pass effort.

Travelers holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve enjoy unlimited access to these two lounges (including two guests) through the complimentary Priority Pass membership offered with the card. Those with Priority Pass memberships through other cards (or purchased directly from Priority Pass) can access them once per year as a tempting taster, with extra visits (or guests) charged at $75 per visit.

Chase’s impressive investment in these lounges is likely part of a wider strategy to increase the value of the Sapphire Reserve. This card was one of the best options for frequent travelers when it first hit the market, but competition has heated up in the years since. Even it’s lower-priced brethren — Chase’s own Sapphire Preferred Card — carries generous earning rates, solid perks and comparable travel protections.

That said, the Reserve card’s higher annual fee could now be a savvy investment if you live in New York or pass through these airports regularly.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?

In other news, the following loyalty programs are also offering bonuses on purchasing points and miles:

• Alaska Airlines MileagePlan: Earn up to a 60% bonus on points purchases by Feb 24 with purchase rates as low as 1.85 cents per point.
• Hilton Honors: Get a 100% bonus on purchased points by March 12, at 0.5 cents per point.
• JetBlue TrueBlue: Earn a 90% bonus when you buy 3,000 or more points before March 31, 2024, at a rate as low as 1.32 cents per point.
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: Earn up to a 45% bonus on points purchases by Feb. 23 with purchase rates as low as 1.65 cents per point.

Travel credit card offers

Beyond these developments, there is no shortage of great welcome bonuses on many popular cards. Here are a few of our favorites this month.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Per TPG’s valuation, that’s worth $1,230 when you leverage transfer partners or $750 if you redeem through the Chase travel portal at 1.25 cents per point.

The card comes with a manageable $95 annual fee, along with a variety of travel protections and additional perks — like a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made through the Chase travel portal and a 10% anniversary points bonus based on your previous year’s spending.

Of course, you may want to spring for the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead. While the card has a hefty $550 annual fee, it includes perks like Priority Pass lounge access, an annual $300 travel credit and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, among other benefits. Plus, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining expenses, so you can quickly rack up rewards for your next big trip.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

On the higher end of the spectrum is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, one of the most exciting travel credit cards on the market, thanks to great earning rates and included perks.

The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth $1,388, according to our valuations, thanks to Capital One’s excellent airline and hotel transfer partners.

For more details, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The standard Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is currently offering the same welcome bonus as the Venture X. You can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Like the Venture X, the Venture card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on everything you purchase.

For more details, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

With the current welcome offer on the Amex Platinum, you’ll earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership — though you may be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time).

American Express® Gold Card

One of the most popular cards with TPG staffers, the Amex Gold offers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership. This welcome offer is worth $1,200 based on our valuations — but be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher offer (offer subject to change at any time).

The card is great for many everyday purchases. You’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants. The card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees).

For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.

Official application link: American Express Gold Card