I earned my first foreign airline elite status in 2018 and have since pursued status with two other non-U.S. airlines.
However, I’ve only once pursued elite status specifically for perks on those airlines themselves — and I never did so because I planned to fly them more often than their U.S. alliance partners.
Instead, I’ve mostly gone for status with foreign airlines when it has been easy to earn, or when it would provide additional benefits I wouldn’t get from equivalent status with a domestic carrier.
For example, I don’t get lounge access on domestic flights with my American Airlines Platinum Pro status. But, when I had a lower tier of status with Malaysia Airlines (one of American Airlines’ Oneworld partners), I enjoyed American Airlines lounge access — including the special Flagship Lounges at select American Airlines hubs — even on short domestic flights like Dallas to Austin.
I’ve also found it easier to qualify for foreign airline status. As an example, I could earn 19,068 of the 30,000 flight miles I’d need over a two-year qualification period for Asiana Airlines Diamond status (which gives Star Alliance Gold status) on a single round-trip premium economy itinerary from New York to Singapore.
Credited to United MileagePlus, this same round-trip itinerary would earn at most 19,068 miles and at most one-tenth of the Premier qualifying points I’d need for United Gold (the lowest United Airlines status that gives Star Alliance Gold status).
To learn more about airline elite status and my plans for 2026, check out the following stories:
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