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In today’s issue ⤵
Do You Need Airline Status?
Deals of the Week - British Airways, China Airlines & Southwest
Airline Industry Roundup
Free Tool of the Week - Manage all of your flights in one app
Video Spotlight
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✈️ Do You Need Airline Status?
Airline status is a level of recognition given to frequent flyers by airlines, unlocking perks like priority boarding, free checked baggage, upgrades, and lounge access. Airlines assign these tiers based on how often you fly or how much you spend. The higher your status, the more benefits you have access to, making your travel experience smoother and a lot more comfortable.
The Benefits of Airline Status
Having airline status gives you access to several perks that improve your travel experience, such as:
Priority Check-In and Boarding: Skip the lines and board the plane earlier.
Complimentary/Discounted Checked Bags: Save on fees for checked baggage, or get additional bags for free.
Upgrades: Depending on the frequent flyer program, you’ll have access to discounted upgrade opportunities.
Lounge Access: Higher tiers often come with access to premium airport lounges.
How to Earn Airline Status
There are a few main ways to achieve airline status:
Flying Frequently
The most traditional way to earn status is through flying. Airlines reward status based on either the miles flown or the number of flights (segments) you take, with more expensive fare classes earning more credits.Credit Card Spending
Quite a few airlines offer co-branded credit cards that let you earn status through your spending. By meeting spending thresholds on these cards, you can reach certain status levels without flying as much.Status Match or Challenge
If you already hold status with one airline, you can often match that status with another airline. Some airlines also offer status challenges, where you have a short period to fly a certain number of miles or segments to unlock status quickly.
Who Should Aim for Airline Status?
Frequent Flyers
If you fly often for business or leisure, airline status will make your trips more efficient and comfortable. Priority boarding, lounge access, and upgrades can significantly improve the quality of your travel experience.International Travellers
For those flying long-haul, the perks of airline status - like lounge access during layovers - can make those hours spent in airports more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll earn more points for future flights with higher status.Loyal Travellers
If you tend to stick with one airline or its alliance partners (such as Star Alliance or Oneworld), earning status can provide consistent benefits across multiple carriers.
However, if you’re an occasional traveler, the time and money required to achieve status may not be worth it. Instead, you might be better off focusing on maximizing credit card points or looking for cheap fares, rather than chasing status.
⚡️ Aviation Industry Roundup
Qatar Airways to Launch Toronto Flights
Qatar Airways plans to commence scheduled service to Toronto Pearson from their Doha hub, with the inaugural flight set to take place on December 11th, 2024. As a Toronto resident and Qatar Airways enthusiast, I’m very excited for this route.
Air France Adopts Starlink Wifi
Air France has joined airlines like United and Hawaiian by switching to SpaceX's Starlink for faster, free in-flight wifi. As more airlines adopt Starlink’s network, free high-speed internet is quickly becoming the new standard for improving passenger experience.
🎧 What I’m Watching Today
(Video) 20 HOUR Singapore Airlines BUSINESS CLASS FOOD REVIEW! - LA to Singapore
Video Credit: Onemoreweektogo
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DISCLAIMER: All prices quoted in this newsletter are in United States Dollars (USD) unless stated otherwise. The guides presented in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be personal financial advice. This publication may contain curated content with links to source materials. Recommendations and opinions are those of the original authors, and Flight Citizen assumes no liability.
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