Travel Wise And Cool

Promotions For Frequent Flier Elite Status

Some latest promotions from major airlines to help you get your elite status sooner. To me, the advantage of Elite status is obvious: quicker boarding, access to lounges and better seating. Now that I'm flying 14 weeks a year, I cannot live without Elite membership.

It's that time of year when frequent fliers look to accrue the crucial miles that will get them so-called elite status for 2007, and airlines are rolling out offers to help them make it.

Elite status in airlines' mileage programs entitles fliers to perks like free or discounted upgrades, priority boarding, special seating or access to airport lounges. The miles that qualify for elite status tend to be miles actually flown on the airline or its alliance partners, rather than miles accrued through credit-card purchases or deals with retail and hotel partners. As a result, these loyal passengers are particularly coveted by airlines.

Now, some airlines are rolling out promotions to help their fliers make elite status by year end, when the airlines add up the miles and determine next year's elite travelers. US Airways Group Inc. has a promotion through the end of December for members of its rewards program who are close to reaching one of its "preferred" status benchmarks. Members don't even have to fly: They can earn qualifying miles through participating hotel stays and car rentals or through the airline's retail partnerships. Spending $25,000 a year on a US Airways credit card over the course of a year means that 10,000 miles are converted to miles that qualify for elite status.

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines also has a promotion to help fliers make it to the next elite level: It gives travelers double qualifying miles. Travelers have to pay $499 and must register before Nov. 24; they have to fly by Dec. 16.