Million Miler Standing — What It Is and How one can Attain It

In the event you are inclined to e book whichever flight is most cost-effective, you would possibly need to rethink your technique. Loyalty is commonly rewarded, and frequent fliers that persist with one airline for the lengthy haul can acquire unique perks. Million miler standing is an elusive, hard-to-reach standing awarded to those that fly a million miles or extra with an airline.

A handful of airways acknowledge million miler standing, however, argues Gilbert Ott, the director of partnerships at Level.me, “Two million or three million is the brand new a million.”

“At a million, persons are usually getting a lifetime of low or center tier elite standing which can assure bolted-on advantages when flying with the airline (and infrequently with companions),” he explains. Individuals are flying greater than ever, so it is smart that coveted advantages are more difficult to succeed in now than they may have been a number of years in the past. Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential learn about million miler standing. 

How one can Qualify

The {qualifications} to succeed in million miler standing are literally fairly easy: fly a million miles. That is simpler stated than finished, nevertheless. David Rimmer, CEO at AB Aviation Group, says it took him over 15 years to succeed in million miler standing, which he has with Delta and American. “Simply as standing has turn into harder to achieve, million miler standing has, too, over time,” says Rimmer.

Advantages of Million Miler Applications

The advantages of being 1,000,000 miler will depend upon the precise program and your degree. Primarily, you’ll earn lifetime elite standing. “So far as presents, there’s not rather a lot,” says Ott. “Typically it is a piece of bags, typically it is only a sterling silver key chain or bag tag, or bottle of champagne.”

Every time you add 1,000,000 miles, your perks enhance. “Two million and three million is de facto the brand new threshold for these George Clooney, ‘Up In The Air’ type advantages, and realistically, it is really over 4 million the place these actually occur,” explains Ott. “5 million on Delta will get you annual “invite solely” 360 standing with the airline, which frequently contains Porsche rides to connections and a private meet and greet for some flights.”

Other than elite standing and some presents right here and there, the principle profit is figuring out you’ve reached a threshold few others have reached.

Evaluating Million Miler Applications

4 U.S. airways provide 1,000,000 miler program: Delta, United, American, and Alaska. Though the packages are basically the identical, there are a number of distinct variations to concentrate on.

American Airways

After flying a million miles, you earn lifetime AAdvantage Gold standing and 35,000 bonus miles. After two million miles, you earn AAdvantage Platinum standing and 4 one-way upgrades, plus 4 extra for every extra million miles you earn.

“American, curiously, hasn’t prioritized these lifetime milestones,” says Ott. “They’ve 1,000,000 miler program, nevertheless it would not ramp up with every threshold of million miles the way in which the opposite two do.” With lifetime AAdvantage Gold standing, you get perks like precedence check-in on the enterprise class counter, Group 4 boarding, and one free checked bag.

Delta Air Traces

Delta has a number of ranges of million miler standing. Every degree comes with an annual medallion standing, increased precedence for complimentary upgrades, and particular bag tags. It’s also possible to select from a collection of presents every time you hit 1,000,000 miles.

• A million: Gold Medallion standing
• Two million: Platinum Medallion standing
• Three and 4 million: Diamond Medallion standing
• 5+ million: Delta 360

“Even when my flying falls off, I nonetheless have entry to complimentary space-available upgrades and complimentary most popular seating and mileage bonuses,” says Rimmer. He additionally says you get a devoted customer support line and talked about that you just get a greater expertise than you usually do with out standing. When Rimmer grew to become 1,000,000 miler, he obtained a Tumi curler bag from Delta, which he nonetheless makes use of immediately.

United Airways

United works equally to Delta. Every degree comes with an annual Premier elite standing and the chance to share your standing with a partner or somebody who lives with you. With every million miles, you obtain a better degree of standing.

• A million: Premier Gold standing
• Two million: Premier Platinum standing
• Three million: Premier 1K standing
• 4 million: United International Companies

Alaska Airways

At a million miles, you earn lifetime MVP Gold standing and a complimentary meal when meals are served in the principle cabin on their flights. At two million miles, you’ll obtain lifetime MVP Gold 75k standing. If you wish to purpose for a fair increased standing, you’ll obtain 20,000 elite qualifying miles every calendar yr. It’s also possible to share your elite standing with somebody in your family for all times. In the event you earn a better elite standing than your lifetime standing provides you, you may also share that one.

Backside Line

Loyalty is rewarded, however typically it’s much less rewarding than anticipated. In the event you fly often sufficient to make it to 1 million miles, you most likely have already got elite standing with that airline. The packages that can help you lengthen standing to somebody in your family or ship million miler unique presents can present some worth, however you’ll doubtless get considerably extra advantages by simply reaching a better tier of elite standing along with your favourite airline. Nonetheless, there’s all the time the perk of getting million miler bragging rights.