Chasing elite status with a hotel or airline can be addicting. Once you get a taste of the benefits (think upgrades, lounge access, bonus points and enhanced customer service), it’s hard to give them up. Depending on how frequently you travel, you could easily get hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in value from elite status. However, these lucrative perks come at a cost. With the big three U.S. carriers requiring customers to spend at least $3,000-$4,000 in a year and the major hotel chains requiring at least 10-night stays to earn the lowest level of elite status, even bottom-tier members have to shell out.
Luckily, there are a number of credit cards that can help jumpstart your progress. In fact, if you play your cards right (pun intended), you could have top-tier elite status in a major program by the time you finish reading this guide.
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The best credit cards for elite status in 2020
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- United Explorer Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- JetBlue Plus Card
- Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Airline elite status
Although no credit card currently on the market gives airline elite status outright, many allow cardholders to earn incremental credits toward status that might be just the boost you need to jump into the elite ranks or reach a higher tier. Depending on how much you spend with your card, you may be able to earn status without ever setting foot on a plane.
Related reading: Credit cards that can help you earn airline elite status
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Delta status through high spending, low flying
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Elite status: In addition to the MQMs that come as a part of the welcome bonus, you’ll receive 15,000 MQMs for reaching $30,000, $60,000, $90,000 and $120,000 in calendar-year spending for a total of up to 60,000 MQMs — almost enough for Delta Platinum Medallion status. The card waives Delta’s Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQD) requirement for elite status up to the Platinum level when you spend $25,000 on it in a calendar year and the MQD requirement for Diamond status when you spend at least $250,000.
Related reading: What is Delta Air Lines elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. In addition to a Sky Club membership, you’ll get two one-time guest passes for the lounge, your first bag checked free, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (up to $100), an annual companion certificate (valid for main cabin, Comfort+ or first class), access to complimentary upgrades and complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card. See our card review for more details. Annual fee $550 (See rates and fees)
Analysis: This card is excellent for Delta flyers as it offers access right off the bat to the most valuable perks of elite status, such as complimentary upgrades, lounge access and priority boarding. If you want actual elite status, you can earn all the way up to Gold Medallion status (normally earned after 50,000 MQMs or 60 segments plus $6,000 MQDs) year after year purely through spending or Platinum Medallion status (normally earned after 75,000 MQMs or 100 segments plus $9,000 MQDs) with around three round-trip transcontinental trips per year.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best mid-range card for Delta status
Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus:40,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months. Plus, earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new card within your first three months.
Elite status: Waive Delta’s MQD requirement for elite status (up to the Platinum level) when you spend $25,000 on your card in a calendar year; earn 10,000 MQMs when you spend $25,000 in a year and another 10,000 MQMs if you spend $50,000 in a year.
Other benefits: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta and hotel spending; 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. In addition to your first bag checked free, priority boarding and no foreign transaction fees, this card offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit and domestic main-cabin, round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card. See our card review for more details. Annual fee $250 (See rates and fees)
Analysis: You won’t be able to earn status purely through spending with this card, but you’ll definitely get a nice boost and get to enjoy elite-like benefits — such as a free checked bag and priority boarding — before even earning status.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: Best for American Airlines EQMs, Million Miler lifetime status and Admirals Club access
Annual fee: $450
Welcome bonus: 50,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Elite status: Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 on the card during a calendar year.
Related reading: What is American Airlines elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. This card comes with a number of elite-like benefits, including an Admirals Club airport lounge membership, priority check-in, airport screening and boarding when flying American, a first bag checked free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100). See our card review for more details.
As part of its elite status extension announcement, American Airlines also announced that from May through December 2020, customers will be able to earn one mile towards their Million Miler lifetime elite status for every dollar spent on cobranded cards. This does not apply to welcome bonuses or to card bonus categories, meaning that even if your purchase earns more than one redeemable AAdvantage mile per dollar spent, you’ll still only get one mile towards your Million Miler status. This means that through the end of the year, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard can help you earn status for 2020 while also boosting your total towards locking in lifetime elite status, allowing you to permanently jump off the hamster wheel of constant requalification.
Analysis: It’s a bummer that this card doesn’t offer Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs), but this card still provides many elite-like benefits, including Admirals Club access (access granted with a same-day boarding pass for an eligible American Airlines’ flight and active card), in case the EQM boost is not enough to help you earn elite status.
Related reading: Why I’m jumping off the AA elite-status hamster wheel
Note that there’s also the AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard that earns up to 10,000 EQMs per year and $3,000 EQDs, but that card is not open to new applicants. You can pick up the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, keep the card for at least 90 days and then call Barclays and request an upgrade to the Aviator Silver card, but the product change is not guaranteed. There is a long list of factors that Barclays looks at when considering whether it will approve an upgrade request, including whether your account is in good standing, the length of your account history and any recent upgrades/downgrades, so the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a safer bet.
The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Apply here: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
United Explorer Card: Best low-fee card for chasing United status
Annual fee: $95 (waived the first year)
Welcome bonus: For a limited time, earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Elite status: Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for spending $12,000 on the card each calendar year, plus an additional 500 PQPs with an additional $12,000 in spending, for a grand total of 1,000 PQPs. (Note that these bonus PQPs only count toward status up to Premier Platinum.)
Related reading: What is United Airlines elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases and at restaurants and hotels, and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. Get your first bag checked free (you must include your MileagePlus number in your reservation and pay for the flight with the Explorer Card to receive this benefit), priority boarding and 25% inflight savings on United flights. You’ll also get two one-time United Club passes deposited into your MileagePlus account each year of card membership, expanded award availability, and an application fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: Despite being an entry-level card, it offers the same PQP boost as United’s more expensive cards and is jam-packed with premium travel perks, including annual lounge visits.
Apply here: United Explorer Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: Best for Southwest A-List status and Companion Pass eligibility
Annual fee: $149
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Elite status: You can earn up to 15,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) a year — 1,500 for each $10,000 spent. That will get you almost halfway to A-List status with Southwest. All points earned with this card, including the welcome bonus, count toward Companion Pass eligibility.
Related reading: What is Southwest Airlines elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. You’ll get a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, four upgraded boardings per year (when available), 20% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi and pay no annual fees. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: This card is great for Southwest flyers as it lets you shortcut both A-List status and the Companion Pass. The $99-per-year Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers the same welcome bonus and TQP-earning benefit, but falls short of the Priority card as it lacks valuable benefits like the $75 annual Southwest travel credit and four upgraded boardings per year, and also only offers 6,000 anniversary points.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
JetBlue Plus Card: Best for JetBlue Mosaic status
Annual fee: $99
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.
Elite status: You’ll get automatic JetBlue Mosaic elite status after you spend $50,000 each year with the card.
Related reading: What is JetBlue elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 6 miles per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases; 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. You’ll also get an annual $100 statement credit toward the purchase of a JetBlue Vacations Package, 5,000 bonus anniversary points, a 10% rebate on award flights, a free first checked bag and 50% off inflight food and cocktail purchases. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: While it’s nice to be able to earn Mosaic status purely through spending with this card, it’s an expensive option. Mosaic status is typically achieved either by accruing 15,000 base points (spending $5,000 on JetBlue tickets) or by earning 12,000 base points ($4,000 spending) and flying 30 segments.
The information for the JetBlue Plus has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Apply here: JetBlue Plus Card
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard: Best for chasing Frontier status
Annual fee: $79
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after you spend $500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
Elite status: All miles you earn with this card are both award miles and elite-qualifying miles, so you can earn any level of Frontier status simply based on spending. Frontier offers three tiers of elite status: Elite 20k, Elite 50k and Elite 100k.
Other benefits: Earn 5 miles per dollar spent for purchases on Frontier’s website; 3 miles per dollar spent at restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees, Priority Zone 2 boarding, family mileage pooling, no points expiry when you make a purchase at least every six months and a $100 flight voucher every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more during the preceding year on your card. Plus, you’ll get an award redemption fee waiver when you use your card to pay for the taxes and fees on Frontier awards. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: Frontier may not offer the most valuable elite status out there, but being able to earn any level of status simply based on spending is terrific.
The information for the Frontier Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related reading: The best credit cards to use on low-cost carriers
Hotel elite status
Hotel chains are a lot more generous than the airlines when it comes to giving away elite status. You can get automatic elite status with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG without staying at any of their properties or spending on your card.
Related reading: On the hamster wheel of chasing hotel elite status? Buy it instead
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Best low-fee card for Marriott status
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Elite status: Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, plus 15 elite-night credits, each calendar year toward reaching a higher status. Reach Gold status by spending $35,000 or more on your card in a calendar year.
Related reading: What is Marriott Bonvoy elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 6 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 2 points per dollar spent on everything else. Receive a free-night award every year on your account anniversary when you renew your card, worth up to 35,000 points, and free premium in-room Wi-Fi. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: Automatic Silver status is better than no status at all, but don’t expect benefits like suite upgrades and free breakfast. Silver status offers a 10% point bonus, late checkout (subject to availability) and access to an elite member reservation line.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex: Best for fast-tracking Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Annual fee: $450 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Elite status: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status with your card, and earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year. Each calendar year, you also receive credit for 15 nights toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy elite status (say, if you already reach Gold status based on your stays but are within shouting distance of Platinum status without having to meet the $75,000 spending requirement).
Other benefits: Earn 6 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott properties; 3 points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with the airline, and 2 points per dollar spent on everything else. Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive a free-night award worth up to 50,000 points, good for up to a standard Category 6 hotel. You will also receive an annual statement credit of up to $300 for eligible purchases (including room rates) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and enjoy up to $100 in credits for on-property charges when booking stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties. Other benefits include Priority Pass Select lounge access and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: While Gold Elite status isn’t that lucrative, Platinum Elite is, including perks like upgrades to suites and free breakfast. Even better, the card isn’t that much more expensive than the mid-tier Boundless card given how easy it is to get full value from the annual $300 Marriott statement credit which will effectively lower the annual fee to $150. Just make sure the Platinum Elite benefits you’re getting outweigh the points you’re giving up for putting such heavy spending on this card, as you could potentially earn a more valuable haul of points by diverting $75,000 of spending to a different card.
Related reading: Is it worth spending $75,000 on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card to earn Platinum status?
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
The Platinum Card from American Express: Best for status with Hilton and Marriott and elite-like benefits at luxury properties
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Elite status: Cardmembers can register for automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status
Other benefits: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines and through American Express travel, plus prepaid hotel bookings through amextravel.com and Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR), and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. Aside from automatic elite status with Hilton and Marriott, you can get elite-like benefits at luxury hotels around the world by booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. The Amex Platinum also includes access to more airport lounges than any other card; a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit; up to $200 in annual airline incidental fee credits; up to $200 per year in Uber credits; up to $100 pear year in Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits; discounted premium flight tickets via the Amex International Airlines Program, and complimentary memberships in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: This is easily the best card for hotel stays across all top hotel brands. You get automatic Gold elite status with both Hilton and Marriott and highly valuable elite-like benefits on FHR stays. Every FHR stay comes with benefits such as complimentary room upgrades when available; noon check-in; 4 p.m. checkout; on-site food and beverage credits, and more.
Apply here: Platinum Card from American Express
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: Best low-fee card for chasing Hilton status
Annual Fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months.
Elite status: Automatic Hilton Gold status and the opportunity to earn Diamond status by spending $40,000 a year on the card.
Related reading: What is Hilton Honors elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 12 points per dollar spent at participating Hilton hotels; 6 points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, and 3 points per dollar spent on everything else. You’ll get 10 Priority Pass lounge visits every year and can earn a weekend-night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: This card is ideal for those that want mid-tier status with Hilton and don’t want to pay a high annual fee. Gold status with the program is among the most valuable mid-tier hotel statuses out there, getting you an 80% points bonus, no resort fees, a fifth night free during reward stays, space-available upgrades, free in-room and lobby Wi-Fi, late checkout, free breakfast and two free bottles of water.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Surpass Card
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Best for top-tier Hilton Diamond status
Annual fee: $450 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 150,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Elite status: Enjoy automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status.
Other benefits: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible Hilton hotels; 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental agencies and at U.S. restaurants; and 3 points per dollar spent on everything else. Get one weekend-night reward every year after renewal plus an additional night at eligible properties after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year. Enjoy up to $250 in statement credits each year of card membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts; up to $250 per calendar year in airline incidental fee credits; up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts on two-night-minimum stays; and Priority Pass airport lounge access. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: This card is a must for Hilton fans. Automatic Diamond status is as good as it gets, with perks like guaranteed lounge access (at properties that have them), suite upgrades, free breakfast and more. TPG values Hilton Diamond status at $3,025.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Aspire Card
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: Best for IHG status
Annual fee: $89
Welcome bonus: Earn 140,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your new card.
Elite status: Enjoy automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status.
Related reading: What is IHG Rewards elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG properties; 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. As a cardholder, you’ll get a fourth-night reward; an annual award night certificate worth up to 40,000 points; a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit of up to $100, and no foreign transaction fees. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: As long as you’re spending more than a few nights a year at IHG properties, Platinum Elite status alone can be worth the card’s $89 annual fee. Standout perks include a 50% bonus on paid stays, room upgrades (excluding suites) and a welcome amenity.
APPLY HERE: IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best for Hyatt status
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus an additional 25,000 points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first six months.
Elite status: Hyatt Discoverist status automatically, though you also receive five qualifying night credits toward the next level of elite status each year and the opportunity to earn two additional night credits for each $5,000 spent on the card.
Related reading: What is Hyatt elite status worth?
Other benefits: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties; 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, at restaurants, on airline tickets and on fitness club and gym memberships; and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. You’ll get one free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year after your cardmember anniversary, plus a second free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year when you spend $15,000 on the card during your cardmember year. See our card review for more details.
Analysis: Discoverist status is one of the more valuable low-tier elite status levels. It comes with a 10% point bonus when staying at Hyatt properties, space-available upgrades to preferred rooms within the same category, a daily bottle of water, complimentary premium internet, late checkout, access to the elite reservation line, Pearl status with the M life Rewards Program and bonus points on American flights. Higher levels of status are within reach if you’re willing to put some spending on the card.
An added bonus? If you reach Hyatt Explorist elite status or higher and have linked your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts, you might be offered a status match or challenge for American Airlines elite status.
Apply here: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Bottom line
There are a number of credit cards that offer elite qualifying miles, dollars and stay credits that put earning or boosting your elite status within reach. A handful of cards even provide elite status outright. Be sure to take into account the opportunity cost before putting a significant amount of spending on your card simply to earn status, as the spending threshold may be more trouble than it’s worth. All of the cards that offer elite boosts are cobranded cards, and cobranded cards typically aren’t the most lucrative options out there for everyday spending. Aside from that, spending simply to get to elite status might not be entirely logical for folks who don’t actually travel much or won’t get a lot of value from elite status. However, if you spend a decent amount of time on the road and need help bridging the gap to hit elite status faster, the credit cards discussed today can be extremely useful.
Already have elite status? Check to see what airline and hotel status match options are available to you. Note that status that’s been granted or obtained through credit cards rather than earned may not be enough for a match.
Related guides
- Best travel credit cards
- Best hotel credit cards
- Best credit cards for airfare purchases
- Best gas credit cards
- Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Featured image by Liam Spencer/The Points Guy.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Delta Amex card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, please click here.
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