Airlines want to reward their most loyal customers, offering benefits like upgrades, waived fees, free checked bags, priority boarding, dedicated customer service, and more to their status members. While every airline’s program is different, they all offer benefits that we recommend frequent flyers take advantage of when possible.
Travelers should add their airline member numbers to their profiles everywhere they book travel—including corporate booking platforms, travel advisors, credit card booking portals, and airline alliance members’ websites and apps—to ensure they qualify for status and enjoy the best travel experience possible.
On many airlines, travelers can earn qualifying miles or points on purchases beyond flights. Understanding each airline’s program requirements can help unlock the benefits that member status offers, even when flight purchases alone aren’t enough to qualify.
The Travel Team shares airline status program details for informational purposes. We encourage you to visit each airline’s website for full program details, including additional benefits and program restrictions.
American Airlines AAdvantage®
Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum
| To qualify | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro | Executive Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalty Points | 40,000 | 75,000 | 125,000 | 200,000 |
| Earnings | 40% more miles | 60% more miles | 80% more miles | 120% more miles |
| Boarding | Group 4 | Group 3 | Group 2 | Group 1 |
| Complimentary Upgrades | Up to 24 hours before departure | Up to 48 hours before departure | Up to 72 hours before departure | Up to 100 hours before departure |
| Main Cabin Extra Seats | At check-in | At booking | At booking | At booking |
| Free Checked Bags | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
- Earnings
- 40% more miles
- Boarding
- Group 4
- Complimentary Upgrades
- Up to 24 hours before departure
- Main Cabin Extra Seats
- At check-in
- Free Checked Bags
- 1
- Earnings
- 60% more miles
- Boarding
- Group 3
- Complimentary Upgrades
- Up to 48 hours before departure
- Main Cabin Extra Seats
- At booking
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- Earnings
- 80% more miles
- Boarding
- Group 2
- Complimentary Upgrades
- Up to 72 hours before departure
- Main Cabin Extra Seats
- At booking
- Free Checked Bags
- 3
- Earnings
- 120% more miles
- Boarding
- Group 1
- Complimentary Upgrades
- Up to 100 hours before departure
- Main Cabin Extra Seats
- At booking
- Free Checked Bags
- 3
All tiers: Every AAdvantage status also includes priority check-in and security, plus complimentary Preferred Seats at booking.
Qualifying for AAdvantage Member Status
Travelers earn miles on American flights, as well as other oneworld Alliance airlines and several additional partner airlines. Purchases on an AAdvantage credit card and with partner hotels, rental car companies, restaurants, and online retailers also earn miles. One mile is equal to one Loyalty Point; Loyalty Points earned each year qualify travelers for rewards and status.
Delta SkyMiles® Medallion®
Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond
| To qualify | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $28,000 |
| Earnings | 7 miles per dollar | 8 miles per dollar | 9 miles per dollar | 11 miles per dollar |
| Boarding | Zone 5 | Zone 4 | Zone 4 | Zone 2 |
| Priority Security | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Expedited Baggage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Choice Benefits | N/A | N/A | Choose 1 | Choose 3 |
- Earnings
- 7 miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Zone 5
- Priority Security
- No
- Expedited Baggage
- No
- Choice Benefits
- N/A
- Earnings
- 8 miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Zone 4
- Priority Security
- Yes
- Expedited Baggage
- Yes
- Choice Benefits
- N/A
- Earnings
- 9 miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Zone 4
- Priority Security
- Yes
- Expedited Baggage
- Yes
- Choice Benefits
- Choose 1
- Earnings
- 11 miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Zone 2
- Priority Security
- Yes
- Expedited Baggage
- Yes
- Choice Benefits
- Choose 3
All tiers: All members also qualify for waived baggage fees and priority check-in, as well as premium customer service.
Medallion status members enjoy unlimited complimentary upgrades for themselves and a companion to Delta First and Delta Comfort, as well as the domestic Delta Premium Select experience and the domestic Delta One® experience on flights within the United States. When these upgrades are available depends on status level.
Choice Benefits include options like Delta travel vouchers, bonus miles, and Starbucks® Rewards Stars. Learn more.
Qualifying for Medallion Status
Travelers earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on Delta flights, as well as flights with several global airline partners. Delta Main Basic tickets do not earn miles. Purchases on Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards earn MQDs, as do getaways booked with Delta Vacations®.
jetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic®
Mosaic 1, Mosaic 2, Mosaic 3, Mosaic 4
In 2027, Mosaic members and one companion will be eligible for complimentary upgrades to BlueFirst when space is available. Members will also see new Perks You Pick® options, including points bonuses, tile bonuses, and a BlueHouse pass. Some existing Perks You Pick options will be retired and can only be used through January 2027.
| To qualify | Mosaic 1 | Mosaic 2 | Mosaic 3 | Mosaic 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 50 | 100 | 150 | 250 |
| Earnings | 3x bonus + base JetBlue points | 3x bonus + base JetBlue points | 4x bonus + base JetBlue points | 5x bonus + base JetBlue points |
| Free Checked Bags | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| EvenMore® Upgrades | 36 hours before departure + 2 companions | At booking + 2 companions | At booking + 4 companions | At booking + 4 companions |
| Premium Upgrade Certificates(Previously, Move to Mint) | No | No | 4 | 8 |
| Gift Mosaic | No | No | No | Gift Mosaic 1 status to a TrueBlue member |
| BlueHouse Access | No | No | No | Complimentary lounge entry at JFK & BOS + 1 companion |
| Pet Fee Waiver | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- Earnings
- 3x bonus + base JetBlue points
- Free Checked Bags
- 1
- EvenMore® Upgrades
- 36 hours before departure + 2 companions
- Premium Upgrade Certificates (Previously, Move to Mint)
- No
- Gift Mosaic
- No
- BlueHouse Access
- No
- Pet Fee Waiver
- No
- Earnings
- 3x bonus + base JetBlue points
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- EvenMore® Upgrades
- At booking + 2 companions
- Premium Upgrade Certificates (Previously, Move to Mint)
- No
- Gift Mosaic
- No
- BlueHouse Access
- No
- Pet Fee Waiver
- Yes
- Earnings
- 4x bonus + base JetBlue points
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- EvenMore® Upgrades
- At booking + 4 companions
- Premium Upgrade Certificates (Previously, Move to Mint)
- 4
- Gift Mosaic
- No
- BlueHouse Access
- No
- Pet Fee Waiver
- Yes
- Earnings
- 5x bonus + base JetBlue points
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- EvenMore® Upgrades
- At booking + 4 companions
- Premium Upgrade Certificates (Previously, Move to Mint)
- 8
- Gift Mosaic
- Gift Mosaic 1 status to a TrueBlue member
- BlueHouse Access
- Complimentary lounge entry at JFK & BOS + 1 companion
- Pet Fee Waiver
- Yes
All tiers: Many Mosaic benefits are available at all tiers, including dedicated customer service and check-in, priority security and boarding, Preferred Main Seating, and same-day switches.
All tiers also include additional compensation for qualifying delays and cancellations, as well as complimentary space-available upgrades to BlueFirst starting in 2027. Every time a traveler moves into the next tier, they are eligible for one Perks You Pick, which include tile bonuses, a BlueHouse pass, and a Premium Upgrade Certificate. JetBlue cardholders have additional options to choose from.
Qualifying for TrueBlue Member Status
To achieve Mosaic status, travelers earn tiles on travel spend, which includes JetBlue flights, as well as JetBlue Vacations® packages and reservations made via the TrueBlue Travel platform. Purchases on a JetBlue credit card earn tiles, and travelers can also buy tiles directly.
Southwest Rapid Rewards®
Silver, Gold, Platinum
Southwest will debut a new tier structure on January 1, 2027. At this time:
- A-List Members become Silver Members
- A-List Preferred Members become Gold Members
- Existing Companion Pass® holders keep benefits for their full term
- New Platinum tier launches with unlimited Companion Pass trips
| To qualify | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) | 35,000 | 65,000 | 140,000 |
| or, Flights | 25 | 50 | 100 |
| Earnings | 40% more points | 60% more points | 120% more points |
| Boarding | Group 1 | Before Group 1 | Board before Gold Members and Group 1 |
| Seat Selection at Booking | Preferred or Standard seat at no additional cost | Any seat at no additional cost | Any seat at no additional cost |
| Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade | Within 48 hours of departure | At booking | At booking |
| Free Checked Bags | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Companion Pass Trips | N/A | N/A | Unlimited |
- Earnings
- 40% more points
- Boarding
- Group 1
- Seat Selection at Booking
- Preferred or Standard seat at no additional cost
- Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade
- Within 48 hours of departure
- Free Checked Bags
- 1
- Companion Pass Trips
- N/A
- Earnings
- 60% more points
- Boarding
- Before Group 1
- Seat Selection at Booking
- Any seat at no additional cost
- Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade
- At booking
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- Companion Pass Trips
- N/A
- Earnings
- 120% more points
- Boarding
- Board before Gold Members and Group 1
- Seat Selection at Booking
- Any seat at no additional cost
- Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade
- At booking
- Free Checked Bags
- 3
- Companion Pass Trips
- Unlimited
All tiers: Every tier also offers members Priority and Express Lane access, same-day standby (including Basic fares), and priority customer support.
Travelers should also be aware of the Milestone Reward unlocked at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights: three Companion Pass trips.
Southwest’s Companion Pass allows you to bring an additional designated traveler with you on a one-way or round-trip itinerary. Learn more. Or, see how Companion Pass is changing in 2027.
Qualifying for Rapid Rewards Member Status
Rapid Rewards is unique in that it allows travelers to qualify with points or total number of flights. Travelers earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) by flying with Southwest, making purchases on a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit or debit card, or booking vacations with Getaways by Southwest. Purchases with travel, dining, and shopping partners also earn points.
United MileagePlus Premier®
Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K
| To qualify | Silver | Gold | Platinum | 1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) | 6,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 32,000 |
| and United or United Express Flights | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Earning | 2 more miles per dollar | 3 more miles per dollar | 4 more miles per dollar | 6 more miles per dollar |
| Boarding | Group 2 | Group 1 | Group 1 | Priority pre-boarding |
| Free Access to Economy Plus | At check-in, for you + 1 companion | At booking, for you + 1 companion | At booking, for you + 8 companions | At booking, for you + 8 companions |
| Complimentary Premier Upgrades | Day of departure | 48 hours before flight | 72 hours before flight | 96 hours before flight |
| Free Checked Bags | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| PlusPoints | N/A | N/A | 40 | 280 |
- Earning
- 2 more miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Group 2
- Free Access to Economy Plus
- At check-in, for you + 1 companion
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- Day of departure
- Free Checked Bags
- 1
- PlusPoints
- N/A
- Earning
- 3 more miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Group 1
- Free Access to Economy Plus
- At booking, for you + 1 companion
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- 48 hours before flight
- Free Checked Bags
- 2
- PlusPoints
- N/A
- Earning
- 4 more miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Group 1
- Free Access to Economy Plus
- At booking, for you + 8 companions
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- 72 hours before flight
- Free Checked Bags
- 3
- PlusPoints
- 40
- Earning
- 6 more miles per dollar
- Boarding
- Priority pre-boarding
- Free Access to Economy Plus
- At booking, for you + 8 companions
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- 96 hours before flight
- Free Checked Bags
- 3
- PlusPoints
- 280
All tiers: All Premier members can take advantage of confirmed flight changes within 24 hours of departure, free within the same fare class, plus priority customer service.
United Premier members enjoy Star Alliance™ status across the network’s airlines.
PlusPoints can be used to request upgrades on United, United Express, Lufthansa, ANA, or Copa. Learn more.
Qualifying for Premier Status
Travelers earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) when flying United, United Express, or another Star Alliance member. Purchases on United Chase credit cards also earn points. Travelers can buy PQP when booking a United flight. Every status member must take at least four United or United Express flights per year.
These requirements are a slight departure from the current qualification process (which includes Premier qualifying flights) and will go into effect January 1, 2027.
