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.