Elite Status Without Flying or Staying
Jul 9, 2007 | 8:39 am
#151
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: CO Gold, AA Plat, DL Gold, US Chairman's Preferred, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 187
I don't have a link, but it's mentioned in the current issue of InsideFlyer, under Best Bets, so I think it's still true.
Jul 13, 2007 | 2:32 pm
#152
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: CO Gold, AA Plat, DL Gold, US Chairman's Preferred, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 187
Trial US Airways Status for Money
US Airways has introduced a new twist to the "challenge" system, by allowing the "challenger" to purchase status during the 90-day challenge period. It's $200 to go up one tier, $400 to go up two tiers, and $600 to go up three tiers, but you can't go up to "Chairman's Preferred." Only one challenge every 24 months. 1-800-428-1775 to sign up.
Last edited by Ferdinand Magellan; Jul 13, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Aug 28, 2007 | 9:51 am
#153
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: CO Gold, AA Plat, DL Gold, US Chairman's Preferred, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 187
CO MC Presidential Plus
The CO "Presidential Plus" MC from Chase offers 2K status miles for every $25K charged, up to 28K status miles a year (for $350K in charges). The status miles, called Flex EQMs, are kept in an account separate from the normal accrual of CO status miles, and they do not expire. They are used by contacting CO.
The other important benefit of the card is CO club access. The annual fee is $375, which is the same price as annual CO club membership (disregarding elite and multi-year discounts, promos, etc.)
The basic idea seems to be that this might help business flyers (who qualify for elite status from flying) to retain elite status for some period after they retire, or otherwise cut back on flying. Aside from the no expiration feature, this card seems less generous with status miles than the corresponding DL, UA and US cards.
The other important benefit of the card is CO club access. The annual fee is $375, which is the same price as annual CO club membership (disregarding elite and multi-year discounts, promos, etc.)
The basic idea seems to be that this might help business flyers (who qualify for elite status from flying) to retain elite status for some period after they retire, or otherwise cut back on flying. Aside from the no expiration feature, this card seems less generous with status miles than the corresponding DL, UA and US cards.
Aug 30, 2007 | 2:11 am
#154
Join Date: Jan 2004
Programs: AA PLAT, DL GLD, CO GLD, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 101
I have an idea... Why don't you all earn it by flying the actual miles. I find it sad and discomforting that i'm sitting up in first class with someone who got their elite status by paying a few hunderd dollars or saying at some hotels w/o actually EARNING it. I hope the airlines will move away from this practice and leave the first class seats to the folks who deserve first class seats, the ones who actually pay for them or fly the level of miles/segments to accrue elite status. In fact, I'm glad to see some airlines removing first class seats -- gives the folks who don't fly much less chance to sit up front.
Aug 30, 2007 | 10:44 am
#155
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 135
Any way to get EQM with NW without flying? I can't find any!
Aug 30, 2007 | 11:13 am
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,372
Quick MR
Buying flowers with the right credit cards gets miles, and all miles count toward award tickets. EQ miles come one way: BIS miles AKA Butt in Seat Miles.
Fastest way to NW Silver I know: NW P, F, J, C, Z, Y, and B fares earn Elite Qualifying Miles at 150%. Cheapest fare of the bunch is B. Fly 16,667 miles on a paid B ticket and you are Silver. That is one round trip DTW-SIN(which is actualy 19,436 RT miles. Do it twice and you are Gold.). You can do it in under three days. How hard is that? Enjoy your MR.
Fastest way to NW Silver I know: NW P, F, J, C, Z, Y, and B fares earn Elite Qualifying Miles at 150%. Cheapest fare of the bunch is B. Fly 16,667 miles on a paid B ticket and you are Silver. That is one round trip DTW-SIN(which is actualy 19,436 RT miles. Do it twice and you are Gold.). You can do it in under three days. How hard is that? Enjoy your MR.
Sep 4, 2007 | 2:31 pm
#158
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 6
confer elite status upon another member
(5) UA and AA allow one member meeting a status mile threshold to confer elite status upon another member -- 75K and 125K for one lower-tier (Premier/Gold) designee.
Thank you,
DC
Sep 4, 2007 | 3:04 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
When you hit one of the benchmarks that UA sets for its "elite choice rewards" (look on their website for the schedules), you are offered a choice of rewards according to what status you started out with and how many EQM or EQS you have achieved (e.g., 35K, 75K, 125K, etc.) Some of those rewards come with the opportunity to gift someone else 3P or 2P status.
Sep 13, 2007 | 12:30 pm
#161
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 6
When you hit one of the benchmarks that UA sets for its "elite choice rewards" (look on their website for the schedules), you are offered a choice of rewards according to what status you started out with and how many EQM or EQS you have achieved (e.g., 35K, 75K, 125K, etc.) Some of those rewards come with the opportunity to gift someone else 3P or 2P status.
Thanks again!
Sep 13, 2007 | 1:36 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
duplicate
Last edited by itsme; Sep 13, 2007 at 1:46 pm Reason: duplicate
Sep 13, 2007 | 1:45 pm
#163
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
Not sure what the "request" was. Did you get an email from MP telling you that you had hit one of the "elite choice reward" milestones (e.g., 35K, 75K, 125K, etc.) and now had the opportunity to nominate someone for elite status (3P or 2P)? If so, then you must go to the web address they direct you to and make your choice of reward there, entering the name and MP number of your nominee. (And you must do that within 30 days of their notice to you or you will lose that opportunity to nominate.) Your choice of nominee will be acknowledged and you will be asked if you want them to receive a mailed package advising them of your "gift" of elite status. You will also be told that it may take up to 2 weeks for their elite status to go into effect. That is the "acknowledgement" you will get. There will be no automatic confirmation when the elite status you have gifted them is put into effect.
Sep 13, 2007 | 2:39 pm
#164
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 6
Not sure what the "request" was. Did you get an email from MP telling you that you had hit one of the "elite choice reward" milestones (e.g., 35K, 75K, 125K, etc.) and now had the opportunity to nominate someone for elite status (3P or 2P)? If so, then you must go to the web address they direct you to and make your choice of reward there, entering the name and MP number of your nominee. (And you must do that within 30 days of their notice to you or you will lose that opportunity to nominate.) Your choice of nominee will be acknowledged and you will be asked if you want them to receive a mailed package advising them of your "gift" of elite status. You will also be told that it may take up to 2 weeks for their elite status to go into effect. That is the "acknowledgement" you will get. There will be no automatic confirmation when the elite status you have gifted them is put into effect.
Nominate a Friend to Silver Preferred Status
If you fly over 100,000 miles or 120 segments in a calendar year, you
can nominate an individual of your choice to Silver Preferred status.
If you have not completed your Silver Preferred Status nomination for
2007, please email your nomination request [email protected] and
list CNOM in the subject line.
Program rules: The Chairman's Nominate a Friend program allows a
Chairman's Preferred member, under some circumstances, to nominate
another person for Silver Preferred status. The program does not give
a member authority to appoint, give, sell or do anything but nominate
another individual for membership. US Airways retains the right to
reject a nomination, just as it retains the right to terminate a
member from its Dividend Miles at any time. Thus, a Chairman's
Preferred status member does not own a membership, one he or she
personally uses, or one through the Nominate-a-Friend program, to
sell. US Airways will not honor any membership obtained through a
reported purchase, and will take appropriate legal action to ensure
that further attempts to sell memberships cease.
If you fly over 100,000 miles or 120 segments in a calendar year, you
can nominate an individual of your choice to Silver Preferred status.
If you have not completed your Silver Preferred Status nomination for
2007, please email your nomination request [email protected] and
list CNOM in the subject line.
Program rules: The Chairman's Nominate a Friend program allows a
Chairman's Preferred member, under some circumstances, to nominate
another person for Silver Preferred status. The program does not give
a member authority to appoint, give, sell or do anything but nominate
another individual for membership. US Airways retains the right to
reject a nomination, just as it retains the right to terminate a
member from its Dividend Miles at any time. Thus, a Chairman's
Preferred status member does not own a membership, one he or she
personally uses, or one through the Nominate-a-Friend program, to
sell. US Airways will not honor any membership obtained through a
reported purchase, and will take appropriate legal action to ensure
that further attempts to sell memberships cease.
Sep 13, 2007 | 5:09 pm
#165
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
My response was apropos UA. Sorry, can't be of any help with regard to US or other carriers. (Interesting to know that US offers something like UA with regard to "gifts" of status to others, though it appears that opportunity may only come at much higher milestones.)