Learn How to Earn Elite Status and What Comes With It

Despite being a legacy carrier, Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t have a huge footprint in North America. Nor is it a member of an airline alliance. However, if you fly Hawaiian Airlines on a regular basis, elite status might be worthwhile. 

Additionally, Hawaiian Airlines has several airline partners including Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, China Airlines, jetBlue, Virgin Australia, and Korean Air that allow you to credit miles earned on their flights to Hawaiian. All of the above makes collecting Hawaiian miles relatively easy. Unfortunately, all elite benefits are limited to flights on Hawaiian Airlines, and it doesn’t appear that there are any reciprocal elite benefits between Hawaiian Airlines and its partners.

Earning Status

Hawaiian Airlines Pualani has two elite levels: Gold and Platinum.

Hawaiian Airlines Pualani Qualification Requirements

Qualification requirements are as follows:

• Pualani Gold: 20,000 miles or 30 segments
• Pualani Platinum: 40,000 miles or 60 segments

Upgrades

• Gold and Platinum: Upgrade to Extra Comfort or Preferred Seat
• Platinum:
  • Same day upgrade on a flight to the Neighbor Islands
  • Two first class domestic and business class international one-way upgrades
  • Six one-way systemwide upgrades upon reaching 75,000 miles
  • One additional upgrade for every 10,000 miles earned after that

Hawaiian Airlines Pualani Bonus Miles

• Gold: 50% bonus miles
• Platinum: 100% bonus miles

Fee Waivers

• Gold: First two bags
• Gold and Platinum: In-flight Unlimited TV & More Pack on A330 flights

• Platinum:
  • First three bags
  • Preferred Seat on Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights to the Neighbor Islands

Airport Services

• Gold and Platinum:
  • Access to the first class check-in line and express security line
  • More seats are available for selection at time of booking
  • Discounted E-Awards at HawaiianAirlines.com
  • Priority routing and handling when calling Exclusive Reservations Line
  • Hold a fare on a flight reservation for 1-2 days
  • Priority boarding
  • Neighbor Islands same-day standby
  • Priority security lines at select airports
  • Priority baggage handling
  • Priority pre-boarding

Complimentary Lounge Access

• Gold and Platinum:
  • Premier Club Access – Honolulu, Hilo, Kona, Kahului and Lihue

Notable Additional Rewards for Gold and Platinum Members

• Special invitations to events hosted by Hawaiian Airlines throughout

the U.S.

• $100 annual statement credit toward in-flight purchases for Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard cardholders ($10 maximum per day)

Premier Club Benefits

Some of the elite benefits are available to anyone willing to pay for them. The Premier Club membership costs $299 or 40,000 Hawaiian miles and covers many Gold and Platinum benefits except:

• Upgrades
• Hold a Fare
• Guaranteed seat
• Bonus miles
• Neighbor Islands standby
• Invitations to special events

Other Ways to Earn Status

• None

Status Match/Status Challenge

• Not official, but there are some reports of status-matching on a case-to-case basis.

Earning Elite Miles on Partner Airlines

• None

After British Airways and Iberia merged, Avios became the default currency for Iberia. However, Iberia still maintains its own Iberia Plus frequent flyer program, and although there are some similarities between Executive Club and Iberia Plus, they operate separately.

Have you wished you could earn elite status on United faster? Well, if you have it appears that United has been listening because they have upped the ante for their frequent flyer program double the PQM’s for premium seats.

American Airlines drastically changed AAdvantage in 2015, with revisions that would come up in stages. AAdvantage made a transition to a partially revenue-based earning scheme, but unlike Delta, American Airlines was introducing the changes gradually. This days, the carrier continues making updates to its loyalty program.

Cathay Pacific is a member of the OneWorld Alliance and transfer partner of three U.S.-based airline travel programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Citi ThankYou. That makes collecting Cathay Pacific miles relatively easy, so if you often fly to Asia, you may want to consider attaining elite status on Cathay Pacific.

British Airways Executive Club is structured a bit differently from many other airline elite programs, mostly because Avios — the airline’s currency — are points, not miles.

United Airlines Elite Status: How to Reach it and What’s in it for You

Soon after Delta announced the revenue component to its frequent flyer program, so did United. The new United Mileage Plus program requires you not only fly certain amount of miles, but also spend a predetermined amount of money to reach elite status.

Delta Air Lines completely reshuffled its program in 2014, turning its earning component into a revenue game. If you are chasing elite status, being in that seat is not going to be enough — you also have to pay more for the ticket. A lot more in fact.