Elite status really does make a difference of traveling somewhere vs. traveling somewhere comfortably, assuming you’re in Economy Class. I would say elite status is the most useful when in fact you aren’t flying in the premium cabin, First or Business Class. That’s because most of the elite status benefits that are provided are usually included in a premium ticket – from priority boarding to extra baggage allowance.
The biggest benefit of elite status is lounge access – being able to relax, unwind, dine, drink, rest, and shower, before a flight or between flights. It’s the single most useful benefit and while the other benefits provided are of course necessary for a better travel experience, lounge access is most valued.
Earning elite status is simple. Simply select a frequent flyer program and review their qualification requirements and other important information – then you’ll be ready to fly and earn miles. If your airline belongs to an alliance, then most likely the most important elite status benefits will extend to you beyond your airline – they will be valid alliance-wide. For example, if you earn Lufthansa elite status it equals to either Star Alliance Silver or Gold Status – which is valid and recognized on all member airlines worldwide.
While the benefits of elite status vary from airline to airline, there are certain benefits that are standard and are included with virtually every elite status. The benefits below apply most of the time to those holding mid-tier or higher status, however, some airlines do extend some of these benefits to other members.
Elite Status Priority Standby and Waitlisting
If you missed your flight or your flight was cancelled, you are placed at the top of the waitlist and you’re entitled priority to a seat on the next available flight. This means that theoretically if your flight is cancelled and you have elite status and there is one seat left on the next flight, you will get that seat vs. another passenger who does not have elite status. This of course is all theoretical because it’s a promised benefit and we don’t know how it works behind the scenes with the airline computer systems. However, when I’ve been on standby and I could see the list, I was almost always within the top 5 passengers on the list, so in theory this benefit does work.
Priority Check-in
Skip the lines and use the Business Class or First Class check-in area even when flying in Economy. This is one of my absolute favorite benefits because waiting in the Economy line to check in a bag often takes more than an hour. With Priority check-in, I’m almost always done with the process less than five minutes after I’ve arrived at the airport.
Extra Baggage Allowance
Generally, certain elite members are allowed an additional piece of baggage if you’re at least mid-tier or higher. An extra piece of baggage means you’re allowed an additional item to what you already have. That is, if your ticket includes 1 bag, you get an extra 1 bag for free. If your ticket includes 2 bags, you still get an extra 1 bag for free and not two additional free bags. This benefit gets tricky on Basic Economy tickets especially on European airlines – as there’s no baggage included in the ticket for free. Some airlines give elites 1 free bag, but some do not and claim the benefit is an extra bag to what you already have – that is if you don’t have any baggage included, you don’t get any extra for free. It’s always confusing with baggage rules, so it’s best to check with each airline.
Priority Baggage Handling
This benefit works randomly – it all seems to depend on your final destination airport and if they place the priority-tagged bags out on the belt first. I’ve found this benefit works wonders at some airports and at others it doesn’t make a difference. It also depends on how the airline sorts baggage in their cargo hold and then how and in what order it is removed.
Fast Track Security
Security can often take over an hour to clear, especially on a busy day. Elites are usually entitled to use the Fast Track lane which probably will have a much shorter security line than the standard line. I would say Fast Track security works great in Europe and Asia, but in the U.S., we have PreCheck which is often better than the Premium Screening line.
Lounge Access
The best and most valued benefit is lounge access. Elite members can access lounges even if they’re flying Economy, and they can usually bring in a guest. The access rules are determined by each airline and lounge, for example, United Airlines elites can not access a United Club if flying domestically. However, a Lufthansa elite flying United domestically would have access since UA limits access to their own members based on other criteria. It’s a weird strange rule, but it’s not like lounges of American carriers are anything amazing.
Priority Boarding
Board the plane ahead of time with premium passengers and have access to the overhead bin earlier – which means more chances of storing your carry on bag successfully rather than having to gate check it if the flight is full. You also have more time to relax and settle in when you board ahead of the general Economy passengers.
Elite Status Upgrades and Access to Premium Seating
U.S. airlines upgrade their elite members on flights within North America and select destinations on a space-available basis and in order of elite status, booking class, ticketing time, etc. They also allow their elites to select seats with extra legroom within a certain amount of time before departure. Non-U.S. airlines don’t usually provide complimentary upgrades to elite members to a higher cabin, but they do allow elites to select premium seats – such as the bulkhead, an exit row, or a seat with extra legroom free of charge, most of the time. Both the upgrade benefit and premium seating benefit vary based on frequent flyer program and airline, so it’s important to check this before travel so you know what you’re entitled to.
In Conclusion: Elite Status Benefits
All of the above benefits truly do make the Economy Class travel experience much better – elite status is most valued when flying in Economy because of all of the premium ground services and then perhaps the upgrades or premium seating access.
Each airline and frequent flyer program sets their own qualification rules and what benefits they extend to those elite members. Some airlines are more generous than others and usually an airline will treat their own elite members better than elite members of a partner airline, as you would expect. Elite status is truly something wonderful and does make a significant difference when flying.