Airline Status
Southwest
Southwest Companion Pass - 135K Points Needed - $170 - $350
Southwest Performance Business 80K +
Southwest Plus / Premier / Priority 40K or
Southwest Premier Business 60K
Southwest A List Preferred
Credit Card Spend: $466,667 (not worth it)
Southwest Spend $11,667 or 50 one ways
Southwest A List
Credit Card Spend $233,333 (not worth it)
Southwest Spend $5,833 or 25 one ways
American
AA Executive Platinum 200K Spend (175K with Cards) (4 Systemwide Upgrades)
$18,152 in Airfare (w/ Silver Aviator)
AA Platinum Pro 125K Spend (100K with Cards) (25K Bonus Points)
$12,795 in Airfare (w/ Silver Aviator)
AA Platinum 75K Spend (50K with Card)
$8,250 in Airfare (w/ Silver Aviator)
AA Advantage Gold 30K Spend
$3,750 in Airfare (w/ Silver Aviator)
(Citi Executive Elite: 40K Spend = 10K Point Bonus)
(Barclays Aviator Silver: 50K Spend = 15K Point Bonus)
Delta
Buy Delta Diamond - Cost 250K in Expenses (12 Global, 4 Regional Upgrades)
Delta Reserve 125K
60 MQMs + 1/2 waiver
Delta Reserve Business 125K
60 MQMs + 1/2 waiver
Buy Delta Platinum - Amex Black Centurion 15K (4 Regional Upgrades)
10K Initiation Fee, 5K Annual Fee (Invite Only)
Status Match $2250 & 18750 Miles in 3 Months
Delta Gold - Gift from Delta Diamond
Delta Silver - Gift from Delta Platinum
(Status Match good for 1.5 years, can do every 3 years)
(Reclaim my Status good for 2 years, can do every 3 years)
United
Buy Premier 1K
$24,000 Spent on United Flights
Buy Premier Platinum
$15,000 Spent on United Flights
Buy Premier Gold
$10,000 Spent on United Flights
Buy Premier Silver
$5,000 Spent on United Flights
Alaska
MVP Gold 100K
24 Flight Segments and 100K Miles or 100K Spend
MVP Gold 75K
12 Flight Segments and 75K Miles or 75K Spend
MVP Gold
6 Flight Segments and 40K Miles or 40K Spend
MVP
2 Flight Segments and 20K Miles or 20K Spend
(AA Status and Alaska Status: Earn Miles, Priority check in and boarding, free checked bags, complimentary premium class seats, first class upgrades for executive platinum and platinum pro, MVP Gold 100K, 75K and vice versa)
Jet Blue
Mosaic+ = 45K Mosaic Qualifying Points
$150K Credit Card Spend
Mosaic = 5K Mosaic Qualifying Points
15K Spend on Jet Blue Plus Card
7 Round Trips -> "Take 3" 5K Bonus, "Lucky 7" 7K Bonus
12K + Points from flying should get Mosaic
50K Credit Card Spend on other cards
(AA Status Members: Priority check in and boarding, free checked bag)
(Can earn AA miles on JetBlue and vise versa)
Frontier
Status Match Promotions on occaion
Elite 20K, 50K Benefits: Carry On, Seat Assignment, Priority Boarding
Elite 100K Additional Benefits: Discount Den Membership, Checked Bag
Spirit
Free Spirit Gold Status
Carry On Bag, Checked Bag, Free Drink & Snack, Priority Boarding, Seat Choice
Requires 5000 Spirit SPQs (1 year time frame)
$5000 in spirit flights or $50,000 on spirit credit card
Status Match 1250 Spirit SPQs (3 month time frame)
$1250 in spirit flights or $12,500 on spirit credit card
Get status for current and next calendar year
Can status match every two years so perpetual
Connor's Recommendation
This will be dependent for where you live. If you live in a hub for a specific airline. Then they become an ideal candidate. So go for what airliners services your location.
Southwest Companion Pass is attainable for $170 - $350 (1 year period)
It is one of the best if not the best values in US airfare
Frontier 100K is attainable every December for $150+ (1 year period)
Frontier is a budget airliner but with status it becomes basically a normal airline
Spirit Gold is attainable for $1250 in flights or $12.5K spend on card (2 year period)
Spirit is a budget airliner but with gold status it becomes basically a normal airline
United Airlines - big spenders on flights (1 year period)
American Airlines - big spenders on credit cards (1 year period)
Delta - Platinum - utilize status match & reclaim my status (4 year period)
Diamond - really big spenders on credit cards & reclaim my status (4 year period)Â
Alaska MVP 75K - long distance flyers or credit card spend (1 year period)
Jet Blue Mosaic - is attainable this year for 15K spend on card (1 year period)