Frequent Flyer Status Comparison Chart

The airline frequent flyer programs below are listed in rank order according to our research. Miles and points that count toward elite status are often distinct from miles and points that can be redeemed for award tickets -- and harder to come by. Miles flown on partner airlines generally do not qualify, for example. Members can earn status by accumulating elite-qualifying miles or points or by flying a required number of segments on the airline and its partners. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also impose a minimum spending requirement. Members who achieve status earn bonus miles that can be redeemed for award tickets. 

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Status Levels

Miles/Points Earned Toward Status

Miles/Points Required for Status

Alternative Requirements for Status

Extra Miles/Points Earned on Flights*

American Airlines AAdvantage

Gold


1 elite-qualifying mile and 0.5-1.5 elite-qualifying points per mile flown

25,000 miles or points

30 segments

25%

Platinum

50,000 miles or points

60 segments

100%

Executive Platinum

100,000 miles or points

100 segments

100%

United Airlines Mileage Plus

Premier Silver




1-1.5 Premier-qualifying miles (PQM) and Premier-qualifying segments (PQS) per mile flown

25,000 PQM and $2,500 Premier-qualifying dollars (PQD)

30 PQS and $2,500 PQD

25%

Premier Gold

50,000 PQM and $5,000 PQD

60 PQS and $5,000 PQD

50%

Premier Platinum

75,000 PQM and $7,500 PQD

90 PQS and $7,500 PQD

75%

Premier 1K

100,000 PQM and $1,000 PQD

120 PQS and $1,000 PQD

100%

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

MVP


1 mile per mile flown

20,000 miles (25,000 on partner airlines)

30 segments

50%

MVP Gold

40,000 miles (50,000 on partner airlines)

60 segments

100%

MVP Gold 75K

75,000 miles (90,000 on partner airlines)

90 segments

100%

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

A-List


6-12 Tier Qualifying Points (TQP) per dollar spent on revenue flights or with Rapid Rewards Premier Card from Chase

35,000 TQP

25 one-way flights

25%

A-List Preferred

70,000 TQP

50 one-way flights

100%

Companion Pass

110,000 TQP

100 one-way flights

100%

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Silver



1-2 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) per mile flown

25,000 MQM and $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs)

30 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQS) and $2,500 MQD

25%

Gold

50,000 MQM and $5,000 MQD

60 MQS and $5,000 MQD

100%

Platinum

75,000 MQM and $7,500 MQD

100 MQS and $7,500 MQD

100%

Diamond

125,000 MQM and $12,500 MQD

140 MQS and $12,500 MQD

100%

JetBlue Airways TrueBlue

Mosaic

3 points per dollar spent on base fare

15,000 points

30 segments and 12,000 points

100%

Virgin America Elevate

Silver

5 points per dollar spent
on base fare (1 point per mile flown on Virgin Atlantic or Australia)

20,000 points

None

25%

Gold

50,000 points

None

100%

Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns

Ascent

0.25-1.50 miles
per mile flown

15,000 miles

20 segments

25%

Summit

25,000 miles

30 segments

50%

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

Pualani Gold


1 mile per mile flown

20,000 miles

30 segments

50%

Pualani Platinum

40,000 miles

60 segments

100%

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit

Elite


0.5-1 mile per mile flown, plus miles earned with Spirit MasterCard and other partners

12,000 Free Spirit miles within past 6 months or $1,200 on base fares within past 6 months

One purchase with Spirit MasterCard each month

0%

VIP

24,000 Free Spirit miles within past 6 months

$2,400 spent on base fares within past 6 months

0%

*Extra miles don't count toward elite status.