SkyTeam Elite via Credit Card
Jul 8, 2012, 11:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2
SkyTeam Elite via Credit Card
Okay so I'm generally a OW fan, but I have some China Southern Flights shortly and want to know if there is any credit card company that provides instant Elite or Elite Plus... pref not Amex at £450/year.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Jul 8, 2012, 3:35 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
Where are you based?
In the USA, the cheaper DL AmEx credit cards (probably free first year with some bonus DL miles) give a free checked bag and relatively early boarding, but not all of DL's lowest tier benefits.
To get enough DL status miles for instant elite status, you would not only need one of the more expensive cards, but also have to meet some spend thresholds. The timing might not be realistic.
SkyTeam Elite doesn't provide many benefits. For ElitePlus (50,000 status miles on DL and some but not all SkyTeam partner FF programs), you would need either an extraordinary sign up bonus and lots of spending on one of the more expensive DL AmEx cards or two (personal and business) cards at twice the fees while still meeting some spending thresholds.
To summarize, I don't think instant Elite or ElitePlus is realistic, but there might be other ways to get the elite benefits you want. What are you trying to accomplish? Note that if your travel is long haul business class, status will not noticeably improve your traveling experience, but it might help in IROPs.
Welcome to FT.
In the USA, the cheaper DL AmEx credit cards (probably free first year with some bonus DL miles) give a free checked bag and relatively early boarding, but not all of DL's lowest tier benefits.
To get enough DL status miles for instant elite status, you would not only need one of the more expensive cards, but also have to meet some spend thresholds. The timing might not be realistic.
SkyTeam Elite doesn't provide many benefits. For ElitePlus (50,000 status miles on DL and some but not all SkyTeam partner FF programs), you would need either an extraordinary sign up bonus and lots of spending on one of the more expensive DL AmEx cards or two (personal and business) cards at twice the fees while still meeting some spending thresholds.
To summarize, I don't think instant Elite or ElitePlus is realistic, but there might be other ways to get the elite benefits you want. What are you trying to accomplish? Note that if your travel is long haul business class, status will not noticeably improve your traveling experience, but it might help in IROPs.
Welcome to FT.
Jul 8, 2012, 3:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: |QF Platinum|DL Platinum|HH Gold|ALL Silver|
Posts: 1,738
There are Amex cards in the US which earn you credit towards status based on spend but based on the currency sign before your 450 you're probably based in Britain.
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Jul 10, 2012, 9:42 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
AmEx Centurion US version used to give DL elite status, IIRC GM when PM was top tier. I don't know whether they still do or whether the British Centurion would offer an equivalent perk, but the annual fee is far above the OP's figure and in addition a four-figure initiation fee tends to be required.
Jul 11, 2012, 3:37 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: DL DM, TK Elite (*Gold), AA EXP (matched and prob not for long!)
Posts: 251
AmEx Centurion US version used to give DL elite status, IIRC GM when PM was top tier. I don't know whether they still do or whether the British Centurion would offer an equivalent perk, but the annual fee is far above the OP's figure and in addition a four-figure initiation fee tends to be required.