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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
How to earn last-minute airline elite status — and whether or not it’s worth it
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
Ben Smithson is a senior writer for TPG and is based in London. Originally from Australia and a qualified lawyer with a financial services background, he has almost a decade of experience writing about a broad range of travel and loyalty topics.
also contributed to this story
September 11, 2025 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
As the year-end approaches, travelers have limited time to earn or retain elite status with major U.S. airlines, each with specific qualification periods and requirements.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer various ways to accrue elite-qualifying metrics, including flying, spending with select credit cards, and engaging with shopping portals or partner offers.
Last-minute strategies include booking eligible flights, leveraging loyalty program shopping portals, and making qualifying purchases to close gaps before deadlines.
Status matches and post-year buyback options may provide alternatives if requalification is out of reach.
What to consider
Qualification periods differ: American Airlines' runs March-February, while Delta and United follow the calendar year.
Flights and purchases must be completed by each airline's deadline, and not all partner flights or fare types count toward elite status.
Some elite-qualifying activities, such as shopping portals or seat upgrades, have specific eligibility rules and may not post instantly.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed step-by-step tactics for maximizing last-minute elite status opportunities with each major U.S. airline.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
We're nearing the finish line for people to earn airline elite status. As the calendar rockets toward Dec. 31 (most programs' cutoff for this year’s elite-eligible activity), the options narrow for travelers trying to decide if they will make it to the next elite tier.
Just about all the emails we get from our readers about this subject involve similar questions: How can I earn the final necessary miles, flights or dollars toward status? How can I earn status without flying more this year, and is airline elite status even worth it?
Here’s some advice for common end-of-year status dilemmas with the major U.S. airlines.
How to earn last-minute elite status with American Airlines
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Here are the criteria for earning American Airlines status via its Loyalty Points system during the current qualification period (March 1, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026):
American’s elite qualification period runs from March 1 through Feb. 28 of the following year (or Feb. 29 during a leap year). If you achieve elite status during the qualification period, your status will be valid from the day it is earned through the following March 31. So, if you earn American Airlines AAdvantage status by Feb. 28, 2026, you’ll keep status through March 31, 2027.
Last-minute strategies to earn or retain American elite status
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You can earn Loyalty Points when you fly American and most of its partners (basic economy fares only earn Loyalty Points when booked directly with American Airlines or eligible partner airlines). However, there are also many ways to earn Loyalty Points besides flying, such as:
Enrolling in SimplyMiles offers before you shop with select merchants
Given that many other major airlines end their qualification periods on Dec. 31, you have some extra time to earn or requalify here.
Loyalty Points are posted to your account based on the date of your flight or the transaction date of your credit card purchases, regardless of your statement date.
If you earn the required MQDs for your desired status tier by Dec. 31, 2025, you’ll keep your status through Jan. 31, 2027.
Last-minute strategies to earn or retain Delta Air Lines elite status
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
If you’re looking to top up your MQDs by Dec. 31, here are some options:
Spend on a Delta Air Lines cobranded credit card: You can earn bonus MQDs on everyday spending with the right Delta credit card. There is no limit to how many MQDs you can earn from spending on the cards, which is handy if you need to top up your MQDs before the end of the year. Delta also provides a MQD head start of 2,500 MQDs per eligible card type each Medallion year for select Delta credit card holders.
Book a flight: You can earn by taking cash flights on Delta (excluding basic economy) or any of its partners. You’ll also earn MQDs at 1 per 100 SkyMiles redeemed on eligible Delta‑marketed award flights, including some partner‑operated flights.
MQDs earned from flying are based on the date of travel, not when they post. To have MQDs from credit card spending count for this year, make the purchases by Dec. 31; posting may occur later. Statement date does not determine the year of MQD eligibility.
How to earn last-minute elite status with United Airlines
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Each United Airlines MileagePlus elite level has two pathways to status: achieving status through a combination of Premier qualifying flights and a certain number of Premier qualifying points, or earning status by meeting a specific PQP threshold.
Here are the current requirements for earning United elite status during the current qualification year, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31:
Premier Silver: 5,000 PQPs and 15 PQFs, or 6,000 PQPs
Premier Gold: 10,000 PQPs and 30 PQFs, or 12,000 PQPs
Premier Platinum: 15,000 PQPs and 45 PQFs, or 18,000 PQPs
Premier 1K: 22,000 PQPs and 60 PQFs, or 28,000 PQPs
Once you earn United Premier elite status, you’ll keep your status for the remainder of the current year in which it was earned, the following year and through Jan. 31 of the following year. So, if you qualify for elite status with United in October 2025, you’ll keep your status through Jan. 31, 2027.
Last-minute strategies to earn or retain United Premier elite status
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
If you need additional United PQFs, you must squeeze in more flights before the calendar turns to Jan. 1, 2026.
Luckily, distance doesn’t matter for PQFs. When earning PQFs, you can take the shortest flights you can find. However, to earn PQFs, your flight can’t be booked in United basic economy and must be credited to United MileagePlus. You won’t earn PQFs or PQPs when flying on select MileagePlus partner airlines, so double-check eligibility if you aren’t flying on United or a Star Alliance partner.
Here are some ideas for earning more PQPs before the end of the year:
Book a paid United or United Express flight: Flights operated by United and United Express typically earn 1 PQP per dollar spent on base airfare and carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding taxes).
Book an award flight: Award flights on United or United Express earn 1 PQF per segment and 1 PQP per 100 miles redeemed. Partner award flights generally don’t earn PQF/PQP.
Book an eligible paid partner flight: You can earn one PQP for every five award miles on a preferred partner airline, up to a maximum of 750 PQPs for economy and premium economy, and 1,500 PQPs for first and business class. For other MileagePlus partner flights, you can earn one PQP for every six award miles up to a maximum of 500 PQPs per flight in economy and premium economy, and 1,000 PQPs in first and business class.
Buy Economy Plus or preferred seats: You can earn PQPs when you buy Economy Plus and preferred seat reservations at a rate of 1 PQP per $1 (excluding taxes and fees).
If your elite status expires in 2025 and it is unlikely you will requalify, even using the above strategies, you might consider applying for a status match with another airline.
A status match typically allows you to obtain a similar or lower-tier status with a new airline based on your current standing with a competitor’s loyalty program. But why would airlines offer such a generous opportunity?
When a traveler has demonstrated strong loyalty to one airline and its rewards program, this can make them an appealing target for a competing airline. The traveler might be open to switching their loyalty if they’re dissatisfied with their current program or their circumstances have shifted — such as relocating from an American Airlines hub to an airport where United is the more dominant carrier.
Although no credit card currently available to new applicants provides automatic elite status with any of the major U.S. airlines listed in this guide, many allow cardholders to earn credits toward boosting their status — check out our explainer here.
Is it worth trying for last-minute elite status?
BRANDON BELL/GETTY IMAGES
If you're short a couple of flight segments or a few hundred dollars, it may be worth the investment to close the gap toward elite status and get a year of benefits.
However, if you still need hundreds — or thousands — of dollars in incremental costs to close the gap, the equation quickly shifts to potentially not being worth it. Factor in the time additional flights will take if you need to fly, and be very honest with yourself about how much the elite status perks will benefit you.
If you will spend more than a few hours or a few hundred dollars at this point in the year chasing airline status, really gut-check yourself on the true value you’ll get.
Bottom line
Airline elite status can still be worth it, but time is running out for you to close the gap to status this year. Depending on your exact situation, you may need to spend some money, book and take some additional flights, or do both in the quest to have the perks you want next year.
As a last resort, if a status match doesn't suit you, remember that sometimes airlines offer a way to buy your status back after the year has ended. It is also free to ask an airline for a one-time bump if you came close but missed earning status. Neither of those methods is guaranteed to work, but they are worth considering if all other pathways to status have been exhausted.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
