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Losing elite status? Here are 5 ways to still get the perks you want
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
November 9, 2022 • 12 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
Many travelers may not requalify for elite status with airlines or hotels as programs return to pre-pandemic requirements.
You can still access elite-like perks by booking hotels through select channels or using certain travel advisers, which may provide benefits like breakfast, property credits or late checkout.
Some travel cards offer airline or hotel perks such as lounge access, checked baggage allowances or even automatic hotel status, serving as alternatives to traditional elite status.
Paying directly for upgrades or specific perks, buying status outright, or leveraging status matches and challenges are additional ways to retain valuable benefits.
What to consider
Some booking channels and travel adviser programs require paying at least the best available rate or meeting minimum stay requirements.
Airline lounge access and other perks tied to cards may have visit limits or spending thresholds, with some changes taking effect in 2025.
Status matches and challenges are often time-limited and may depend on your current status or travel history.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed guidance on which booking channels, travel advisers and alternative strategies best replicate elite status perks after losing your status.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Many loyalty programs returned to their pre-pandemic requirements this year. So, if you didn't travel as much this year as you usually do, you may be facing the unpleasant fact that you won't requalify for one or more of your desired elite status tiers.
We've written many guides with last-minute tips and strategies for earning elite status this year, including the following:
But in this guide, we're going to assume you simply aren't going to requalify for the status you want. So we'll discuss how you might still be able to get the perks you want even once you lose elite status.
Book hotel stays through specific channels
The easiest way to get elite-like perks at hotels without having elite status is to book through specific channels. For example, having certain credit cards can unlock some booking channels that may give you extra perks.
Daily continental breakfast for two, VIP guest status at the hotel and $25 food and beverage credit per stay.
Or, you can get extra guaranteed perks through the following programs when you book with an eligible travel adviser:
Hilton Impresario: Get daily breakfast for two and a $100 property credit per stay at most Conrad, LXR and Waldorf Astoria properties.
Hyatt Prive: Benefits vary by brand but typically include a property credit per stay, daily breakfast for two and a one-category upgrade (based on availability at booking) at Andaz, Miraval and Park Hyatt properties (and some other properties that participate in World of Hyatt).
IHG Lifestyle Collection: Get $50 property credit per stay, Wi-Fi, a VIP note in your profile and fresh fruit or snacks in your room upon arrival at select Hotel Indigo and Kimpton (inside the U.S.) properties.
IHG Luxury Collection: Get daily breakfast for two, $100 property credit per stay, Wi-Fi, 2 p.m. late checkout, a VIP note in your profile and fresh fruit or snacks in your room upon arrival at select InterContinental, Regent and Kimpton (outside the U.S.) properties.
Marriott Luminous: Get daily breakfast for two, a welcome amenity and Wi-Fi at participating Autograph Collection, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels and Westin properties. Some properties also offer a $100 property credit.
Marriott Stars: Get daily breakfast for two, $100 property credit per stay, a welcome amenity and Wi-Fi at Bulgari, Edition, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve and St. Regis properties.
Virtuoso: Get daily breakfast for two and a special amenity at various luxury hotels.
Travel advisers can also access rates that give you extra elite-like perks at other hotel brands, such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood. You'll usually need to pay at least the best available rate, and there can be minimum stay requirements.
In the previous section, we discussed how booking through select credit card programs or travel advisers can unlock some extra perks. But in this section, we'll discuss the elite-like perks you can get with select cards.
Especially if you enjoy getting earlier boarding on flights, a carry-on bag and a checked baggage allowance through airline elite status, you may be able to replace these perks by having an airline credit card. For example, here's a look at some cards that provide a checked baggage allowance:
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: Get a free checked bag for you and up to six companions on your reservation on flights marketed by Alaska Airlines and operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or SkyWest when you pay for your flight with your card.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®(see rates and fees): Get one free checked bag for you and up to four companions on your reservation when traveling on domestic itineraries marketed by American Airlines and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Get a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your reservation when traveling on Delta-marketed and Delta-operated flights.
The information for the Citi Platinum Select credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Some airline credit cards may even give you more perks when flying than your status. For example, even top-tier elite status with most U.S. carriers won't net you lounge access when flying economy domestically. But the following cards give you airline lounge access as a perk:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Get an Admirals Club membership as a card benefit, which provides Admirals Club access to you and two guests (or your immediate family) when you have a boarding pass for same-day travel on an eligible flight.
United Club Infinite Card: Get a United Club membership, which provides United Club access to you and two guests (or one adult and dependent children under 21 years of age) when you have a boarding pass for same-day travel on an eligible flight.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Get complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Plus, get access to Amex Centurion Lounges when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight if you paid for your flight with a U.S.-issued American Express card. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express also get Delta Air Lines lounge access up to three hours before departure when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
On the hotel side, cards tend to give status instead of perks as a cardholder benefit. That's right, some credit cards provide elite status as an automatic perk as long as you're a cardholder. For example, here are a few cards that provide automatic hotel elite status:
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Gold status.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Platinum Elite status.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Platinum Elite status.
With these cards, you're effectively buying elite status — and other perks, like an annual free night — each time you pay the annual fee.
Pay for what you want
DIVERSITY STUDIO/GETTY IMAGES
When I first heard someone argue they weren't going for elite status anymore and were instead booking what they wanted, I thought they were missing out. But, as some travelers struggle to use perks like Marriott's Suite Night Awards and AAdvantage's systemwide upgrades, the idea started to make more sense.
Especially if you don't travel all that frequently — or travel often but only care about upgrades and most other elite perks on a few trips — paying for what you want can be a good substitute for elite status.
After all, if you book the room or suite you want, you won't need to worry about upgrades clearing or asking for an upgrade your status should avail when you reach the front desk and know the hotel is still selling upgraded rooms.
And if you pay more to fly in business class domestically, you won't need to worry about where you are on the upgrade list.
Of course, at least to me, part of the fun of elite status is getting perks I wouldn't pay market rate for as a benefit of status.
Just because you're not requalifying for your current elite status doesn't mean you can't have status. After all, some programs offer a way to buy elite status. Your current program may even offer you an option to buy up to requalify for status once you lose your status.
Sometimes you can also buy hotel or airline status indirectly. For example, you can get IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status as a perk of InterContinental Ambassador membership. An InterContinental Ambassador membership costs 40,000 IHG points or $200 per year, but there are often enrollment and renewal promotions.
Even if you don't find an appropriate status match, some programs may be willing to give you a status challenge. For example, American has a new Instant Status Pass elite challenge. Through this challenge, you can get an offer tailored to you and your current status, historical flying patterns with American and other undisclosed factors.
Think of what you value most about the status you are losing. Then, consider whether any of the above methods could let you still get the perks you value.
From credit cards to travel advisers, you may still be able to get many of the perks of elite status you value even if you don't requalify for your desired status level.
Updated as of 4/18/2024.
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.
