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Elite Flying Status
In recent weeks, we've reported on how airlines are trying to save money by cutting back on the perks, and by strictly enforcing ticket rules. In these belt-tightening times for the air industry, it pays to know how to squeeze the most out of the frequent-flyer game. The Savvy Traveler's Rudy Maxa has been reading the fine print. Host: In recent weeks, we've reported on how airlines are trying to save money by cutting back on the perks, and by strictly enforcing ticket rules. In these belt-tightening times for the air industry, it pays to know how to squeeze the most out of the frequent-flyer game. The Savvy Traveler's Rudy Maxa has been reading the fine print. For years, airlines have tried to encourage brand loyalty by awarding their most frequent flyers with perks. And today, most major airlines have at least three tiers of membership in their frequent-flyer programs: there's the lowest tier that anyone who fills out a form can join; and, there's a second level that, usually, you or I can reach by flying 25,000 miles a year on a single airline. Now, that's actual miles -- not miles you earn by using a credit card linked to an airline's frequent flyer program, or miles earned by staying in a particular hotel. Fly 50,000 miles and you step up once more. Fly 100,000 on some airlines and, while you won't get a plane named after you, you will have achieved the "elite" of the elite statuses. OK, so what good is all this? Well, if you're an elite member, you often get to bypass the regular check-in lines by checking in at the business- or first-class counter, even if you're flying on the cheapest coach ticket going. You can often upgrade to a better class of service for a modest fee. If coach is overbooked, you may be the first in line to be granted a bigger seat in the front of the plane. Gate agents can see on their computer screens who's an elite member and who isn't. Plus, you'll get bonus miles every time you fly. If you're "Premier Executive" on United or "Platinum" on American -- those are the 50,000 mile levels -- you'll earn double miles on each flight, for example. That helps build your mileage account fairly quickly. Other benefits may include access to airline clubs or reduced membership fees, and the ability to request and receive upgrades 24 or 72 hours ahead of a flight. The catch is that at the end of each year, the airline looks at the number of miles you've flown -- and that determines your status for the following year. In other words, you have to keep flying a lot on that particular airline to stay at the top of the heap. A cross-country round-trip flight generally adds 5,000 miles to anyone's frequent-flyer account. Fly 10 of those a year on the same airline and you'll qualify for the 50,000-mile level of the airline's frequent-flyer program. If you plan ahead, you may be able to pick up tickets for those flights for $300 or less. And, that's why US Airways tried to get away with excluding miles earned on advance-purchase tickets from counting toward elite levels. US Airways wanted the big-spending customers, who pay full fare or slightly less, to be the only ones who could qualify. But not only did the airline receive boatloads of complaints, no other airline followed suit. And, as we know, if the rest of the pack doesn't follow a bold marketing move by a rival airline, that maneuver usually collapses. Watch for other tricks as airlines try to figure out how to return to profitability. And, if you do know you're going to be traveling a lot in a particular calendar year, you may want to consider going for elite status. Like the airlines, passengers need as much help as they can get these days. From The Savvy Traveler, I'm Rudy Maxa for Marketplace.To Read More of The Savvy Traveler On Marketplace
You can read - and hear - more from Rudy and company at SavvyTraveler.org! |
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