Last edit by: CX HK
Sky Team
- AF/KL: Lifetime Platinum (ST E+) after 10 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level
- DL: Lifetime Gold (ST E+), then Platinum (ST E+), then Diamond (ST E+) and finally DL 360 (ST E+) after 1M, 2M, 3M and 5MM respectively of Butt in Seat miles, i.e. from any ST flights. Any existing MM balance will be honored at 1:1 ratio
- KE: Morning Calm Premium (ST E+) @ 500,000 miles on any ST flights; Lifetime Million Miler (ST E+) after 1M miles on any ST flights; the SKYPASS program changes on 1 February 2024, so lifetime tiers are only achievable until then
- VN: ST E+ after 1 million qualifying miles accumulated from taking VN-coded flights, operated by Vietnam Airlines since enrollment
- VS: Lifetime Gold after earning 7500 tier points AND 10 years consecutive Gold status.
- AC: on AC metal flights only--lifetime 50K (Elite) (*G) after 1M miles; lifetime 75K after 2M miles; lifetime 100K (SuperElite) after 3M miles
- AV: Member must earn 1MM (Lifetime Gold, *G) via AV and affiliate metal, be 60 years of age AND be a LifeMiles or previous program member for 15 years. 2MM gives Lifetime Diamond. Program is called CENIT
- CA: Lifetime Platinum (*G) after 1M kms on CA-coded flights only
- LH: Lifetime FTL (*S) after 30,000 QP(qualifying points). Lifetime Senator (*G) after 40,000 QP(qualifying points).
- MS: Lifetime Platinum (*G) after 1M miles on MS flights (or all *A flights ??)
- NH: 500k (NH Metal) - , 1MM (NH Metal) - (1)No mileage expiration, (2)Superflyers Card, 2MM/3MM (NH Metal) - (3)F Suite lounge access on NH Metal and (1) and (2)
- OZ: Lifetime Diamond Plus (*G) after 500,000 miles on *A flights/ 500 OZ's flights. Lifetime Platinum after 1M *A flights/ 1k OZ's flights
- SA: Lifetime Platinum (*G) after 6 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level or alternatively: 720 000 SAA Tier Miles** during a minimum of 4 consecutive years and to a maximum of 6 consecutive years on Platinum status by earning at least 120 000 SAA Tier Miles in each year
- SK : Lifetime Gold (*G) after 10 consecutive years of membership at Gold or higher level
- UA: Lifetime Gold (*G), Platinum (*G), 1K (*G), GS (*G) after 1M, 2M, 3M, 4M respectively, but only flown on UA/UAX metal (no longer CM). MM's may share their current status (if higher than their MM tier) with one companion.
- AA: Lifetime Gold (OW Ruby), Platinum (OW Sapphire) after 1M, 2M miles (BiS only; used to be all miles earned before Dec 2011)
- AS: 1MM earns lifetime MVP Gold (OW Sapphire) and Gold 75K (OW Emerald) at 2MM. AS metal only. MM's receive complimentary meals in Main Cabin as well as an annual boost of 20 000 Elite Qualifying miles. MM's may share their current status (if higher than their MM tier) with one companion.
- AY: Lifetime Gold (OW Sapphire) 2M tier points; Lifetime Platinum (OW Emerald) after 3.3M tier points
- BA: Lifetime Gold (OW Emerald) at 35,000 tier points; Lifetime GGL at 100,000 tier points
- IB: Lifetime Infinita (OW Emerald) 125,000 Elite Points since you signed up to the Iberia Plus programme; Infinita Prime (OW Emerald) 200,000 Elite Points
- QF: Lifetime Silver (OW Ruby) after 7,000 status credits: Lifetime Gold (OW Sapphire) after 14,000 status credits; Lifetime Platinum (OW Emerald) after 75,000 status credits
- JL: Lifetime OW Sapphire with JAL Global Club Three Star or higher (1500 Life Status Points)
- LY: The Matmid Frequent Flyer Club awards lifelong Gold membership to members aged 67 and over, they held Gold, Platinum or Top Platinum membership through consecutive 10 years.
- PR: Mabuhay Miles Million Miler membership is earned by those who collect 1 000 000 tier miles
Lifetime status by airline -- attempted summary
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
Lifetime status by airline -- attempted summary
Hello everyone. I tried this some years ago, will try again now. I see that there are numerous threads on lifetime top elite FF status but none too comprehensive I think.
So, I will attempt a brief summary to see if I got this right - so, please go ahead and correct me ! I will then edit this post on the basis of the info received in later posts. I will do this only for the three major alliances, as I guess this is what most of us are in for. I will also only focus, in a concise manner, on the highest attainable tier by alliance, i.e. Elite Plus for ST, Gold for *A, and Sapphire for OW (on the understanding that OW Emerald is not available for lifetime in any manner, right ?).
Sky Team (to attain ST Elite Plus status)
* AF/KL: Lifetime Platinum after 10 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level
* DL: Lifetime Platinum after 4M "Medallion Qualifying Miles", i.e. from any ST flights
* KE: Lifetime Million Miler after 1M miles on any ST flights
My assessment: If one does plan to qualify for AF/KL FB Platinum for 10 years, that's best. If not, KE is also very good.
Star Alliance (to attain *A Gold status)
* BM: Lifetime Gold after 10 consecutive years of membership at the Gold level
* CA: Lifetime Platinum after 1M kms on CA-coded flights only
* MS: Lifetime Platinum after 1M miles on MS flights (or all *A flights ??)
* OZ: Lifetime Platinum after 1M miles on Star Alliance flights
* SA: Lifetime Platinum after 6 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level
* UA: Lifetime Premier Executive after 1 million miles on UA or CM only
My assessment: If one plans to fly enough for 10 or 6 years, BM and SA are good. Otherwise, OZ is the most achievable. UA is good but only if you fly UA/CM.
Comment and question: It should be noted that many of the above however are not flagship carriers (e.g. BM, CO, OZ, UA), while some are (e.g. MS, SA, not sure about the status of CA). The way airlines are going, I would rely more on the flagship carriers, e.g. MS and SA have a higher chance of continuing to exist, than BM, OZ, or even CO and UA. What do you think ?
Question: does anyone know whether *A plans to introduce anything higher than *A Gold, since so many *A members have two or more tiers that are equivalent to *A Gold ?
One World (to attain OW Sapphire status)
* AA: Lifetime Platinum after 2M miles from any source [However, NB: as AA Platinum, you get no lounge access in AA lounges when travelling on AA domestically, while you would get access as OW Sapphire with another airline]
* QF: Lifetime Gold after 14,000 status credits
Assessment: AA is quite easy to achieve. QF is good for those down under.
Question: Am I correct that there is no way to attain lifetime OW Emerald ?
Please send corrections etc so we can update this.
So, I will attempt a brief summary to see if I got this right - so, please go ahead and correct me ! I will then edit this post on the basis of the info received in later posts. I will do this only for the three major alliances, as I guess this is what most of us are in for. I will also only focus, in a concise manner, on the highest attainable tier by alliance, i.e. Elite Plus for ST, Gold for *A, and Sapphire for OW (on the understanding that OW Emerald is not available for lifetime in any manner, right ?).
Sky Team (to attain ST Elite Plus status)
* AF/KL: Lifetime Platinum after 10 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level
* DL: Lifetime Platinum after 4M "Medallion Qualifying Miles", i.e. from any ST flights
* KE: Lifetime Million Miler after 1M miles on any ST flights
My assessment: If one does plan to qualify for AF/KL FB Platinum for 10 years, that's best. If not, KE is also very good.
Star Alliance (to attain *A Gold status)
* BM: Lifetime Gold after 10 consecutive years of membership at the Gold level
* CA: Lifetime Platinum after 1M kms on CA-coded flights only
* MS: Lifetime Platinum after 1M miles on MS flights (or all *A flights ??)
* OZ: Lifetime Platinum after 1M miles on Star Alliance flights
* SA: Lifetime Platinum after 6 consecutive years of membership at the Platinum level
* UA: Lifetime Premier Executive after 1 million miles on UA or CM only
My assessment: If one plans to fly enough for 10 or 6 years, BM and SA are good. Otherwise, OZ is the most achievable. UA is good but only if you fly UA/CM.
Comment and question: It should be noted that many of the above however are not flagship carriers (e.g. BM, CO, OZ, UA), while some are (e.g. MS, SA, not sure about the status of CA). The way airlines are going, I would rely more on the flagship carriers, e.g. MS and SA have a higher chance of continuing to exist, than BM, OZ, or even CO and UA. What do you think ?
Question: does anyone know whether *A plans to introduce anything higher than *A Gold, since so many *A members have two or more tiers that are equivalent to *A Gold ?
One World (to attain OW Sapphire status)
* AA: Lifetime Platinum after 2M miles from any source [However, NB: as AA Platinum, you get no lounge access in AA lounges when travelling on AA domestically, while you would get access as OW Sapphire with another airline]
* QF: Lifetime Gold after 14,000 status credits
Assessment: AA is quite easy to achieve. QF is good for those down under.
Question: Am I correct that there is no way to attain lifetime OW Emerald ?
Please send corrections etc so we can update this.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
One World (to attain OW Sapphire status)
* AA: Lifetime Platinum after 2M miles from any source [However, NB: as AA Platinum, you get no lounge access in AA lounges when travelling on AA domestically, while you would get access as OW Sapphire with another airline]
* QF: Lifetime Gold after 14,000 status credits
Assessment: AA is quite easy to achieve. QF is good for those down under.
Question: Am I correct that there is no way to attain lifetime OW Emerald ?
Please send corrections etc so we can update this.
* AA: Lifetime Platinum after 2M miles from any source [However, NB: as AA Platinum, you get no lounge access in AA lounges when travelling on AA domestically, while you would get access as OW Sapphire with another airline]
* QF: Lifetime Gold after 14,000 status credits
Assessment: AA is quite easy to achieve. QF is good for those down under.
Question: Am I correct that there is no way to attain lifetime OW Emerald ?
Please send corrections etc so we can update this.
#3
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This ended December 2011. Discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ec-2011-a.html
Starting on December 1, 2011, base miles earned by flying on American Airlines, American Eagle® or the AmericanConnection® carrier or any eligible AAdvantage program participating airline will count towards Million Miler status.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
#6
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,689
BD existed for many years and until its demise earlier this year was by far and away the worlds most lucrative program. There are many BD lifetime golds out there, although that means nothing now that BA have taken over.
OZ have lifetime *G at 500k
OZ have lifetime *G at 500k
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
recap
Thanks everyone !
So the changes I am noting would be:
* AA: info is correct, but with the HUGE difference that only base miles now count
* BD/BM (whatever it was called, I did bean BMI): no longer applicable
* OZ: only 500K and not 1M miles, correct ?
Let me know if above is right, any additions etc, so I can change the summary as necessary.
So the changes I am noting would be:
* AA: info is correct, but with the HUGE difference that only base miles now count
* BD/BM (whatever it was called, I did bean BMI): no longer applicable
* OZ: only 500K and not 1M miles, correct ?
Let me know if above is right, any additions etc, so I can change the summary as necessary.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Thanks everyone !
So the changes I am noting would be:
* AA: info is correct, but with the HUGE difference that only base miles now count
* BD/BM (whatever it was called, I did bean BMI): no longer applicable
* OZ: only 500K and not 1M miles, correct ?
Let me know if above is right, any additions etc, so I can change the summary as necessary.
So the changes I am noting would be:
* AA: info is correct, but with the HUGE difference that only base miles now count
* BD/BM (whatever it was called, I did bean BMI): no longer applicable
* OZ: only 500K and not 1M miles, correct ?
Let me know if above is right, any additions etc, so I can change the summary as necessary.
I believe OZ has two different Lifetime status levels, one is earnt after 500k miles and the higher one is earned after one million miles
Additionally, AC also offers lifetime status:
Lifetime Elite status after 1 million status miles earnt on AC operated flights only
Lifetime Super Elite status (AC´s highest status) after 3 million status miles earnt on AC operated flights only
IIRC US Airways awards lifetime status (can´t remember which level) after 1 million miles on US operated flights.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Unless the benefit has been enhanced, LH offers Lifetime Senator (*G) status if:
- you are over 60 years old AND
- you had SEN status for 10 consecutive years AND
- accumulated 1 million status miles
(that´s if I remember the criteria correctly)
IIRC lifetime status on LH is an unpublished benefit, is not automatically awarded and needs to be requested by the FF once he no longer qualifies for SEN status the regular way.
- you are over 60 years old AND
- you had SEN status for 10 consecutive years AND
- accumulated 1 million status miles
(that´s if I remember the criteria correctly)
IIRC lifetime status on LH is an unpublished benefit, is not automatically awarded and needs to be requested by the FF once he no longer qualifies for SEN status the regular way.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: FAT
Programs: AA mm, Hilton Dime, Hyatt Xpl.& PC Plat, Miracle Fruit-su club
Posts: 1,694