4 Reasons to Go for Airline Elite Status

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Elite status is how airlines reward their most loyal customers. If you rack up enough flights and loyalty points with your favorite airline, you could land in one of its elite status tiers -- and receive all the perks that come with it.

These perks can include more miles on bookings, early boarding, free checked baggage, and even complimentary flight upgrades. With most airlines, the higher your status, the higher you'll be on the upgrade list.

Earning elite status isn't easy, and it's not a lifetime appointment. You need to keep meeting the requirements to maintain it, too. Here's how you can tell if going for elite status is a good idea.

1. You fly at least four or five times per year

It only makes sense to work toward elite status if you're a frequent flyer. If you're not flying at least four or five times per year, roundtrip, then it almost certainly isn't worth it.

After all, taking multiple flights with the same airline is normally a requirement to earn elite status. Some airlines let you earn status points through credit card spending (more on that below). But it's harder to reach elite status without flying often.

Even if you reach elite status, you only benefit from it when you fly. If you're only flying a couple of times per year, it's a lot of work for little reward.

2. You have an airline you prefer using

If you decide to go for elite status, you'll need to pick an airline. Ideally, you'll travel with this airline every time you fly, as long as that's an option. You don't want to miss any opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles and loyalty points.

The best-case scenario is that you already have a favorite airline, or one immediately came to mind. If not, think about which airlines you've liked flying with in the past. If you don't feel too attached to any one airline, and you'd rather just go with the lowest airfare price each time, then elite status isn't a match for your travel habits.

3. You live near one of the airline's hubs

After you choose an airline, check to see if you live near one of its hubs. Many of the largest airlines use a hub-and-spoke system. Hubs are the central transfer points where the airline has a large number of flights coming and going.

Elite status works best for travelers who live near an airline hub, because they'll have more opportunities to fly with it. If you live in New York, it probably wouldn't make sense to go for elite status with Alaska Airlines. Even if you love its service, Alaska Airlines has all its hubs in the Western United States and Alaska.

You can find an airline's hubs on its website -- or its Wikipedia page, which is usually where I look. Another option is to see which airlines have hubs in your nearest airport, and then choose one of those as your preferred airline.

4. You're open to applying for an airline credit card

You can earn elite status just by flying with an airline, but it speeds up the process if you open one of its airline credit cards. Many airline cards earn points that help you qualify for elite status. With some airlines, you can even earn elite status exclusively through credit card spending -- no flying required.

Each of the major U.S. airlines has its own credit card, and some of them have several options. These cards often have other valuable benefits, as well, such as free checked baggage, discounts on in-flight spending, and even a membership to the airline's lounge program (on the cards with the highest annual fees).

If you want to check out credit card options for your favorite airline, here are the top picks with the biggest carriers:

• American Airlines credit cards
• Delta Air Lines credit cards
• Southwest Airlines credit cards
• United Airlines credit cards

With all the complimentary benefits, elite status can be worth it, but only for select travelers. If you can say "yes" to everything above, then earning elite status could be a smart goal to pursue for 2024.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Lyle Daly has positions in Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool recommends Alaska Air Group, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.