Elite status can elevate your travel experience, bringing you greater comfort and a sense of luxury. Typically, to earn top-tier status with an airline or hotel requires a significant amount of flights or nights to show your loyalty. But some credit cards can fast-track you to the front of the line without having to log any time in the air or a hotel bed. Here’s a breakdown of which cards offer elite status with card ownership and what you’ll get with each one.
Credit cards that offer airline status
Although there are plenty of airline credit cards that offer perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and even exclusive lounge access, few offer actual status with the airline itself without having to log air time or meet a spending requirement.
Here are several cards that offer an airline status boost with ownership and what that benefit means for you.
- card_name: The card_name offers 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year. This status comes with priority check-in and boarding, two free checked bags, two passes annually to the airline’s Maple Leaf lounge, upgrades to premium cabins on Air Canada-operated flights and elevated rewards on flights.
- Avianca lifemiles American Express® Card: This card comes with automatic silver status every year you own and maintain your card account. Silver status perks with the airline include an additional free checked bag, five passes for you to Avianca lounges plus two for a companion, premium seat selection and space available upgrades, Group B priority boarding and elevated rewards on flights.
- Avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card: The elite version of the card also grants silver status every year you own and maintain your card account. Although the elite status level granted on this card is the same as the less-expensive version, the Elite card earns higher rewards on every dollar spent on the card and comes with other additional perks like a 25% redemption rebate on Avianca flights booked with rewards.
- Frontier Airlines World Mastercard: The budget airline’s cobranded card offers Gold Elite status with the airline which includes a free carry-on bag, priority Zone 1 boarding and premium seating at check in. After the first year, you’ll have to meet certain flying and/or spending criteria to maintain Gold Elite status.
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Signature Credit Card: The Qatar Airways Privilege Club card grants Silver status for the first year of card membership, after the first year you’ll have to meet certain flying and/or spending criteria on the card to maintain this status. With Silver status comes priority check-in and boarding, an extra baggage allowance, lounge access at the Qatar lounge in the Doha airport plus two one-time passes for a guest each year and bonus rewards on flights. Plus, you’ll get Ruby status with the Oneworld airline alliance network which grants perks on any Oneworld airline.
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Credit Card: This card comes with automatic Gold status for the first year of card membership, after the first year you’ll have to meet certain flying and/or spending criteria on the card to maintain this status. Gold status in the Privilege Club comes with all of the benefits of Silver and an additional two one-time guest passes, complimentary meet-and-greet services when transiting through Doha airport, award change fee waivers, complimentary seat selection and mileage bonuses on flights. Plus, you’ll receive Sapphire status with the Oneworld airline alliance network which grants perks on any Oneworld airline.
Credit cards that offer hotel status
Hotel chains are typically more generous than airlines when it comes to offering elite status, with many of the largest hospitality companies in the world offering some level of status with a co-branded credit card. Here are cards that offer a hotel brand status boost with ownership and what that benefit means for you.
Hilton credit cards
- card_name: Enjoy automatic Silver status for as long as you hold the card. Silver status perks include no resort fees on award stays, the ability to book a fifth night free on points when booking four or more nights and a 20% points bonus on paid stays. discontinued_disclaimer American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.
- card_name: This card grants automatic Gold status for as long as you hold the card. Gold status includes all of the benefits of Silver plus space-available room upgrades, a daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast and an 80% points bonus on stays. discontinued_disclaimer
- card_name: The Aspire card offers top-tier Diamond status as one of its perks for as long as you hold the card. With Diamond status you get all of the benefits of Gold plus space-available room upgrades up to a one-bedroom suite, premium WiFi, executive lounge access where offered and a 100% points bonus on stays. discontinued_disclaimer
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required. All information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by Cardratings.
➤ SEE MORE:Best Hilton credit cards
Hyatt
- card_name: Enjoy World of Hyatt Discoverist status, which gives elevated rewards on stays, waived resort fees on reward bookings and late checkout where available.
IHG
- card_name: This card offers Silver status for as long as you hold the card. With Silver status you get a 40% bonus on stays, as well as special member rates and promotions. You’ll also get late checkout where available.
- card_name: Automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as you hold the card.
Marriott Bonvoy
- card_name: As long as you hold the card you can enjoy Silver status. Silver status includes a 10% bonus on stays, priority late checkout, free Wi-Fi and member rates on rooms.
- card_name: Silver status for as long as you hold the card. Silver status includes a 10% bonus on stays, priority late checkout, free Wi-Fi and member rates on rooms.
- card_name: Gold status for as long as you hold the card. Gold status includes a 50% bonus on stays and a welcome gift of points. discontinued_disclaimer
- card_name: Get top-tier Platinum status for as long as you hold the card. Platinum status includes Gold benefits plus a 75% bonus on stays, a welcome gift of points, breakfast or an amenity and guaranteed hotel lounge access where available. discontinued_disclaimer
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required. Information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer.
➤ SEE MORE:Best Marriott credit cards
Wyndham Rewards
- Wyndham Rewards Earner Card: Automatic Gold status for as long as you hold the card. Gold status includes a points bonus, free Wi-Fi, member savings on rooms and late checkout.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner+ Card: Platinum level status for as long as you hold the card. Platinum status includes all of the perks of the Earner Card plus early check-in, status upgrades with Avis and Budget rental car companies and the opportunity to status match to the Caesar’s Rewards casino loyalty program.
Should you get a credit card that offers elite status?
Gaining elite perks via a credit card can be a great way to jump-start your way to a better experience with an airline or hotel than you’d typically have without status. But be aware most of the airline cards on this list only grant elite status as a card member perk for the first year, after that you’ll have to earn it.
When it comes to hotel cards, it could make sense to hold a co-branded card, but the ones with the most top-tier status have high annual fees to match. Those who are frequently on the road may find it’s worth it for the potential access to better rooms and other ancillary perks that can make a stay more comfortable; however, when deciding to choose any new credit card, you’ll also have to consider the card’s other perks like earn rates and annual carrying costs to decide if it’s right for you.
