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© Lypht, LLC All Rights Reserved Introduction to Hotel and Airline Elite Status: Matches, Challenges, and Fast Tracks http://www.lypht.com/Chicago_Seminars.pptx

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Page 1: Chicago seminars

© Lypht, LLC All Rights Reserved

Introduction to Hotel and Airline Elite Status:

Matches, Challenges, and Fast Tracks

http://www.lypht.com/Chicago_Seminars.pptx

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What I Do and Why I’m Here

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Redeeming Airline Miles

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Airline Elite Status Basics

• Miles typically earned by actually flying, though some can be purchased or earned via promotions and/or credit cards.

• Can qualify on miles or segments.• Many US programs start elite benefits at 25,000

miles per year and have tiers. Highest level often comes in at 100,000 miles annually.

• Get benefits with airline and also with alliance, if applicable.

• Re-qualify annually

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Airline Elite Status

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Airline Elite Status

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Airline Elite Status

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Star Alliance Airline Status Matches and Challenges

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Star Alliance Airlines

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• Airport Lounge Access - available worldwide for you and a friend when traveling on Star Alliance

• Priority Airport Check-in - allows you to check-in at the Business and/or First Class counter.

• Priority Boarding • Extra Baggage Allowance - an additional 44

pounds or one piece of luggage• Priority Baggage Handling• Priority Reservations Waitlisting• Priority Airport Standby

Star Gold Benefits

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• Free checked bag on US Airways and United• Priority Reservations Waitlisting• Priority Airport Standby

Star Gold Silver

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United Elite Status Benefits• 25,000 PQM = Silver; 50,000 PQM = Gold; 75,000

PQM = Platinum; 100,000 PQM = 1K• One free checked bag for Silvers, three for higher

elites. All get complimentary upgrades.• Platinum gets two regional upgrades annually.• 1K gets 4 regionals + 6 Global Premier Upgrades• Gold and higher no change same-day change fee• No award change fees for Platinum and 1K• Elite benefits transfer to award tickets for others• Complimentary E+ for up to 8 at reservation for

Platinum and 1K

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United Status Challenge• Send a request to [email protected]• Account upgraded for 90 days during challenge• To keep status for rest of year meet challenge• If after July 1st, good through 1/31/14• Once every 5 years

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US Airways Elite Status Benefits• 25,000 Silver; 50,000 Gold; 75,000 Platinum; 100,000

Chairman’s Preferred• Complimentary space available upgrades for traveler

plus companion (N. America, Caribbean, L. America)• Bonus miles based on level 25%/50%/75%/100%• First checked bag free Silver, 3 free for other levels• Reserve preferred seats and Preferred Access• MoveUp to earlier flight within 6 hours free• Chairman's 4 one-way e-Certificates for travel to/from

Europe, Hawaii, South America and the Middle East

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US Airways Buy Up to Preferred • Purchase top tier status for $2999 with one mile

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US Airways Elite Status Benefits• Silver: 7,500 miles or 10 segments ($200)• Gold: 15,000 miles or 20 segments ($400)• Platinum: 22,500 miles or 30 segments ($600)• Over 90 days, fly a minimum amount of miles on

flights operated by US Airways to keep your Preferred status through February 28, 2014.

• Valid once every 12 months• Only current non-Preferred members can

participate

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Turkish Airlines • Offering status matches to those with status in

other programs (good for two years)• Register for Miles & Smiles account first• Email [email protected] requesting a

match and include a PDF of your latest account statement and a picture of your card.

• Allows you to access Star Alliance lounges when traveling domestically on *A (matching *Gold)

• To renew, credit 25K annually or 37.5K in two years

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Aegean• Short cut to Star Gold or Star Silver Status• You get 2000 (status!) miles for signing up, 4000

miles gets you Star Alliance silver status (so a free checked bag in the U.S.), and 20,000 total miles gets you Star Alliance Gold.

• One year to get to 4,000 then earn 16K more in a rolling year to get *A Gold

• Once you earn it, just credit a flight every 3 years to keep it active

• US Airways flights earn at 100%

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One World Airline Status Matches and Challenges

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One World Alliance Airlines

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One World Status Benefits

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American Elite Status Benefits

• 25,000 Gold; 50,000 Platinum; 100,000 Exec Platinum• Complimentary upgrades on all fares (others just Y

and B) and 8 eVIPs for Executive Platinum.• Valuable SWUs because can be used on any fare class

as opposed to United that requires certain higher fare classes

• All elites get access to preferred seating and two bags for all on their reservation

• Earn four 500-mile upgrades for every 10,000 qualifying miles flown.

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American Status ChallengeGold Challenge:• Earn 5,000 Elite Qualifying Points* in a three month

period• Cost: $120 (varies)Platinum Challenge:• Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Points* in a three month

period• Cost: $240 (varies)

Call 1-800-882-8880 to enrollThere were Executive Plat matches from DL ad UA earlier in the year – can’t hurt to ask

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Sky Team Airline Status Matches and Challenges

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Sky Team Status Benefits

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Delta Status Challenge

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Delta Elite Status Benefits

• 25,000 Silver; 50,000 Gold; 75,000 Platinum 125,000 Diamond

• Complimentary for all levels on North America/Caribbean flights.

• 25%/100%/100%/125% mileage bonus • All elites get access to preferred seating and free

checked bag for up to 9 on their reservation• Mileage rollover• Priority security access for Gold and up• Choice benefits for Plat and Diamond

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Delta MQMs from Credit Card

• Delta Platinum Card gives 5,000 MQM 1st purchase, 10,000 after spending $25K in calendar year, and additional 10,000 if you spend $50K

• Delta Reserve Amex gives 10,000 MQM after 1st purchase, 15,000 MQMs if you hit $30,000, and an additional 15,000 if you hit $60,000.

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Delta Status Challenge

• Receive status for 90 days – must complete challenge during that time

• Don’t have all the benefits of the status during challenge

• No way to challenge to top tier status as it must be earned.

• Status good through 2/28/14 at that time (starting in July)

• Email [email protected]

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Southwest Airlines Companion Pass• 50,000 point sign-up bonuses are available, sign-up

for a personal and business Chase Southwest Card. Then get up to two years of free travel!

• Spend $6K on credit cards• Fly Southwest to earn points• You will have 104,000 of the 110,000 points needed• Transfer 13,000 UR points to Hyatt, then 12,500 Hyatt

to 6,000 SW• Shop through the Southwest Shopping Portal• $1,826 worth of points x 2 people = $3,652!

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Alaska Airlines• Upgrades on Delta Air Lines or Alaska Airlines. 4 Gold

Guest Upgrades for MVP Gold.• Priority Boarding on Alaska Airlines, American

Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.• Checked Baggage Fee Waiver for first two bags on

Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, and for the 1st bag on Delta for MVP® member companions.

• Priority AAccess™ Check-In and Security Lines at select airports when traveling on American Airlines.

• Preferred Seating on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM, or LAN.

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Alaska Airlines

• Status match up to mid-tier MVP Gold• Normally takes 40,000 on Alaska miles for that level or

50,000 on partner airlines• Match after 11/1 good for all of the following year• “Once in a lifetime” status match• Send an email to: [email protected]

[email protected]

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• AA BusinessExtAAs program low level award of gifting Gold status

• US Airways and Delta allows top tier elites to gift status• UA Million Miler spouses get the same status that the

MMer has• Some promotions award EQMs (Delta and US Airways

often do this)• Come to MegaDOs!

Other Routes to Status

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Hotel Elite Status Basics

• Elite status usually based on nights or stays with that hotel chain in a calendar year.

• Varies with each chain, but top tier at some hotels starts at 25 stays per year.

• Lower tier can start around 5 stays. • Some chains allow award nights to count toward

status.• Often best to try and qualify on stays rather than

nights (ie, hotel hop).

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Hotel Elite Status Basics

• Suite upgrades and better rooms• Free breakfast• Lounge access• Free internet• More points!• Guaranteed availability, better service, elite phone

numbers, etc.

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Elite Status for Families

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Elite Status for Families

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Elite Status for Families

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Hyatt Platinum Status• 5 stays or 15 nights in calendar year• Or via the Hyatt Credit Card, United Club card, or

via MilePoint Premium Membership• 15% point bonus, free internet, 2PM late check-

out, “preferred rooms”• Special awards every 3rd stay such as 1,000 bonus

points, Regency Club upgrade, 2,500 bonus points

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Hyatt Diamond Status• 25 stays or 50 nights in calendar year• 30% point bonus + 500/1,000 bonus points or food

& beverage amenity each stay• Four confirmed suite upgrades annually• Free breakfast and internet• Guaranteed availability• Lounge access and 4PM checkout

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Hyatt Diamond Challenge• 60 days to stay 12 nights• Receive Diamond status (and four confirmed suite

upgrades) during the challenge• Perfect time to apply for Hyatt Credit Card• Must have at least Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG

Platinum, or Priority Club Platinum• They may require a statement showing stays with

those chains to get the challenge• Beginning in June, status is valid for 1.5 years

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SPG Gold Status

• 10 stays or 25 nights annually• Or via Platinum Amex, $30,000 on SPG Amex, or

Clear• 50% point bonus• 4PM late check-out• “Preferred” rooms – occasional club access• 250 bonus points, internet, or beverage each stay• Award stays count!

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SPG Platinum Status• 25 stays or 50 nights annually• 4PM late check-out• 50% point bonus• Free internet• Club access• Upgrade to best room, including suites• 500 bonus points, cont. breakfast, or amenity

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SPG Super Platinum

• 50 Nights annually gets you 10 “suite nights” that can be confirmed 5 days in advance.

• 75 Nights annually gets you 100% bonus points and a flexible 24 hours in your room.

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Easy Route to SPG Status

• Get the SPG Amex that awards 25,000 points with $5K in spending.

• End up with 30,000 points.• Have 25 one night stays on cash and points at a

Category 1 hotel. • It would cost 30,000 points + $625 for Platinum

status.• Do it early in the year to get maximum value.• Not a plan I would personally do.

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SPG Platinum Challenge

• Complete 18 paid nights in a 3 month period.• The challenge starts on the 1st of the month.• You do not receive Platinum benefits during the

challenge.• Email [email protected]• Some report getting retroactive credit for the

challenge, but YMMV.• Should get status for 1.5 years if doing after July 1st.

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SPG Platinum Challenge

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Taste of Marriott Challenge• Three months plus the month of sign-up (don’t sign

up on the 1st).• Silver = 3 stays; Gold = 6 stays; Platinum = 9 stays• Receive status during the challenge.• Helps to have some stays on your record or at least

booked in some cases.• Stays with credit card may count.• If told no, then try again.• Can do every 12 months after challenge ends.• Best luck by calling 1-801-468-4000.• Upgrades, arrival gift, free internet, club access or

free breakfast (M-F), 50% points bonus.

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Hilton Gold• Sign up for the Hilton Reserve Credit Card – get two

free weekend nights plus Gold Status• $95 annual fee• Fast Track to Gold with Four Stays in 90 Days• https://hiltonhhonors.com/mvp/Home/Index• Free Gold status – Google “Australia Visa Infinite

Hilton Hhonors Gold”• Gold status gets you 25% bonus points, continental

breakfast for two, internet possible club access, preferred rooms, bonus points, bottled water, etc.

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Other Hotel Matches and Status• Best Western “No Hassle Status Match.”• Club Carlson very easy to status match.• Omni Select Guest gives you bottled water, morning

beverages, two items pressed, shoe shine, and free internet just for joining.

• Priority Club purchased points count toward status – 60,000 for Platinum.

• Platinum via PC Credit Card• Can also purchase Intercontinental Ambassador

Status for $200 or 32,000 points or stay three promo. This also translates to Priority Club Gold.