Not quite. If you cross the Elite mark by mid-October you get a full set of certs which generally are a pari of Special Systemwides (good from Tango+ fares), a pair of regular Systemwides (good from Latitude fares), and four NAmerican upgrades (good from Latitude fares). In addition to other benefits you can select (more Systemwides, MLL passes, bonus AE miles on AC flights, etc.) and a pari of luggage tags and your membership card. These are all valid through to the end of February 2010.

Come December, get can select another package of these benefits (and get a new card and luggage tags) that will be good through February 2011 as you'll have earned Elite status for this year and next year.


We call this Instant Elite. However, note that there is no such thing as Instant Prestige, so you have to keep earning once you hit 25K status miles. If you don't get to 35K then you have to wait until January when you'll get advised you've made Prestige and offered to select your benefits for the Prestige package.