http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...ingcounts.aspx

US Airways is offering US status miles for all base and bonus points with 38 hotel partners, six rental car partners, and FTD, during Oct.-Dec. 2006.

https://www.delta.com/marketing/sweetdreams/index.jsp

Delta is offering "half-credit" DL status miles (one status mile for every two bonus miles), up to 10,000, with four hotel chains from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15, and double status miles on Hertz, Avis and National car rentals, up to 2000, through Nov. 30.

CO's new $375 Presidential Plus MC offers 2000 "flex" status miles for every $25K in spending, up to 28,000 status miles a year. "Flex" means that you can redeem these miles toward elite status "at any time in future years."

For a $99 registration fee, UA is offering 5K status miles for $10K spending, 2500 status miles for $5K in spending, or 1250 status miles for $2500 in spending, from 11/1/06 through 12/13/06. www.united.com/mpvisaeqm.

so CO is doing something like UA's "choices" thing

DL and Amex are increasing the status miles for DL Amex Platinum usage substantially -- up to 30K DL status miles for 2007, then (supposedly) up to 20K status miles thereafter. The 10K status miles for $25K in usage by your anniversary date continues, through 2007 only. Added to this are 10K status miles for $25K in spending during CY07, and another 10K status miles for another $25K in spending. Which raises that possibility that with two DL Amex Plat cards (personal and business?), and $75K in well-planned spending, you will get 50,000 MQMs, which would be Gold.

Not hugely useful, but you get 500 status miles at SN Privilege for every Avis rental. 40 rentals would give you Gold, 100 Platinum.

SmilingBoy.

Initially wasn't too impressed with this offer, but on further reflection it may be pretty reasonable if one is going to spend $10K or more with the Visa card during this two-month window. This deal for 5K of EQM with $10K credit card spend and $99 "registration fee" is better than 50,000 "choices" for 5K of EQM, since one accumulates 50,000 "choices" only with a minimum of $25K spend through certain purchases.

Too bad they didn't announce this deal much earlier, and really too bad that it is only for the last two months of the year rather than for months toward the start of the new year. Usually it is easier to adjust one's schedule of flying and spending at the start of a new year than toward the end of the year. (They didn't have this one in 2005, did they?)

The "SaksFirst World Elite MasterCard" offers BA Silver after $25K in charges. And the BA Visa doesn't. Go figure.

And what does BA Silver do for the card holder? Does it advance the cause of "elite status without flying"?

Has anyone heard anything about this year's "United Elite Prepaid Travel Card"? Are they going to offer it in 2007?

Welcome to FT, la2jax!

Yes, they will be offering it. Details will be coming in February. See http://www.united.com/page/article/0...Fprepaidtravel.

Thanks to united.bomb, you'll get elite status through February 20087!!

LOL, in that case, I will take it!

A Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold member can designate someone else at the same address, 18 years old or older, as a Flying Club Silver member. There is an application form link at Virgin's Gold Benefits web page.

Any other quick ways to get AA elite status? THe only thing I can think of is to apply for a citi AA card which gives you 15000 bonus miles? Dunno if it's still around

Since you have apparently read (and posted on) the sticky on the aa forum that deals with status and benefits .. I am kinda surprised you ask this question.

Elite status is based on Qualifying MILES or Qualifying POINTS or Qualifying SEGMENTS.

You can put all the credit card miles you want into an AAdvantage account and you will not earn tier status.

AA offers a Challenge (EQPs in 90 days essentially and fully detailed in the stickies on the AA forum) to get GLD or PLT status. There is no challenge to EXP (top tier status). So YES there is a quick way to earn status but you GOTTTTTA FLY TO DO IT.

Yes million miles (and 2 MM+) get you lifetime GLD or PLT status .. no such animal for EXP. But gee, 15k miles bonus for a credit card .. leaves you will only 985,000 more to go!

The only way to get EXP status without flying the required miles/points/segments is to buy-into a special program where you give AA $20,000 now and get EXP status and then work off the credit $$ during the years. So if you have a spare $20k right now and will use it this year on AA (use it or loose it) yes .. you too can become exalted EXP. BUT this status last only until Feb 2008 (when purchased this way) while regular qualification/re-qualification in 2007 would get you status until Feb 2009.

You can also ask your employer is they have a contract with AA and you are at the applicable company-based level to receive the benefits AA offers your company's traveling executives. So if you are an AVP in a multi-national company who has a contract with AA you may get GLD status....