Feel like a baller with airline status!

 

There are two reasons why so many of us love the points game. One obvious reason is to  earn points to redeem for free hotel stays and flights. The second is for status. I describe status as a club for an airlines most valuable customers. The higher the status you have the more doors open to you. I was able to achieve gold status at the British Airways Executive Club and as a result I am often rubbing shoulders with celebrities and CEOs in the airport lounge, obviously I am slightly out of place but I do admit I feel like a baller in these situations.  I mean when your in a room with Hip Hop superstars Drake and Kanye West, and not so superstars Louie Spence and Ant from Ant and Dec you do start to feel pretty good.

So what is airline status all about. In a nutshell, an airline loyalty program will have different status levels within their program. The more frequent you fly with that airline the higher your status level will become.

The benefits will vary depending on the airline program and your status level. Examples of the benefits include upgrades, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, extra luggage and 100% bonus on your airmiles.

Here are links to the various status level for some of the airlines:

British Airways

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club/tiers-and-benefits/compare-the-tiers

American Airlines

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/eliteStatus/elite-benefits-chart.jsp

Cathay Pacific

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_GB/frequent-flyers/about-the-club/club-benefits.html

United

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/premier/default.aspx

Singapore Airlines

http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub-krisflyer/KrisFlyer_benefitsglance/

Emirates

http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/Skywards/about/membership-tiers/membership-tiers.aspx

Luthansa

http://www.miles-and-more.com/online/portal/mam/uk/program/information?nodeid=2547184&l=en&cid=1000243

Quantas

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privileges

Air France

https://www.airfrance.co.uk/X01/en/local/voyageurfrequent/flyingblue/fblue_avantages_elite_devenir.htm

As a result of earning gold status at British Airways, my airport experience has become a lot more comfortable, especially at Heathrow T5. To start off with rather than queueing with the other passengers to check-in, I am instead able to go to  the first class and business class line even if I’m flying in economy, that saves me 15-45 mins of waiting around. Then it’s time for the even longer queue to go through security,  but not for me I get to go to the priority line. I then tend to head to the lounge where I have internet access, free magazines & newspapers to read, a choice of warm and cold food from the buffet and if I’m not satisfied with that I can order food from the menu, and I can have a cheeky pre departure drink and it’s the good stuff as well.

Open Bar serving Johnnies Walker Blue Label

 

Why watch 1 channel when I can watch 6.

Food to order

After this I would go for a relaxing massage in the Elemis Travel Spa. If available I would enjoy a 15 minute stress-away shoulder to scalp treatment performed by an Elemis therapist. If unavailable then I would just use one of their massage chairs, which isn’t the same as the real thing but better than nothing. After all this 1st class treatment I feel nice and relaxed and ready to fly, though it’s a shame it’s usually in economy.

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