Originally Posted by canadiancow

There was some debate about this, though I'm not sure if it was on FT, at a do, some private communication I've had, or all of the above.

Having a black credit card is another status level the same way that MM is another status level.

My status code is now SMR.
Another FTer with a black card is SER.
AmericanBovine, with no card, is SE.

So it's still cabin, status, fare class, check-in time.

[...]

I have no idea what someone with no status and a credit card would show up as. AR and A, perhaps?

But the real point here is that a black card in the new program gives you the same jump in priority a MM. MM still beats a card, but a 50K with a card in K class will get the gate upgrade before a 50K without a card in Y class.