travelterminal.com
Comparison of Some US Frequent Flyer Elite Programs
The information herein is believed to be accurate, but TravelTerminal.Com makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy. For corrections please email webmaster@travelterminal.com.

  AA CO DL NW UA US
Qualification by Elite Qualifying Miles GLD 25,000 miles or points
PLT 50,000 miles or points
EXP 100,000 miles or points
-High fares earn 1.5 points per mile
-Med fares earn 1.0 point per mile
-Low fares earn 0.5 points per mile
Note: Can qualify using either points or miles
SE 25,000
GE 50,000
PE 75,000
-Higher fares earn 50% bonus qualifying miles
-Low fares earn 50% qualifying miles (100% if purchased at continental.com)
SM 25,000
GM 50,000
PM 75,000
Higher fares earn 50% bonus qualifying miles (MQMs)
SE 25,000
GE 50,000
PE 75,000
Higher fares earn 50% bonus qualifying miles
2P 25,000
1P 50,000
1K 100,000
Higher fares earn 50% bonus qualifying miles
SP 25,000
GP 50,000
PP 75,000
CP 100,000
  AA CO DL NW UA US
Other Qualification GLD 30 segments
PLT 60 segments
EXP 100 segments
SE 30 points
GE 60 points
PE 90 points
High fares 2 points
Med fares 1 point
Low fares 1 point only if booked at continental.com; otherwise 0 points
  SE 30 segments
GE 60 segments
PE 100 segments
2P 30 segments
1P 60 segments
1K 100 segments
Higher fares earn 50% bonus elite qualifying segments
SP 30 segments
GP 60 segments
PP 90 segments
CP 120 segments
Qualification by flying on other airlines oneworld airlines and AS
-transatlantic BA flights to/from US are not eligible
SkyTeam airlines (incl. DL and NW) plus several others
-DL flights earn EQMs but not points
SkyTeam airlines (incl. CO and NW) plus several others SkyTeam airlines (incl. CO and DL) plus several others
-DL flights earn EQMs but not EQSs
Star Alliance airlines (including US) Star Alliance airlines (including UA) plus a few others
  AA CO DL NW UA US
North America Upgrades Earned (Discount Fares) GLD 4x500-mi/10K miles
PLT 4x500-mi/10K miles
EXP Unlimited (excl. companions)
-GLD/PLT can buy add'l u/gs for $30 each at aa.com
Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited 2P 4x500-mi/10K miles
1P 4x500-mi/10K miles
1K 4x500-mi/10K miles plus 2 CR-1s in each 10K-mi quarter
-add'l 500-mi u/gs are 4/$200
Unlimited
North America Upgrade Clearance (Discount Fares) GLD 24h
PLT 72h
EXP 100h
SE 1d
GE 3d
PE 5d
SM 1d
GM 3d
PM 5d
SE 1d
GE 3d
PE 5d
2P 48h
1P 72h
1K 100h (time of ticketing for CR-1s)
SP 2d
GP 3d
PP 4d
CP 7d
North America Upgrades Earned (Full Fares) Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
North America Upgrade Clearance (Full Fares) GLD 24h
PLT 72h
EXP 100h
Time of Ticketing Time of Ticketing Time of Ticketing 2P 48h
1P 72h
1K 100h
Time of Ticketing
  AA CO DL NW UA US
North America Companion Upgrades Yes, using your 500-mi u/gs (even EXP) GE and PE only and airport only Yes, except certain low fares SE No
GE airport only
PE Yes, at same time as your u/g if same PNR and travel on NW; else airport only
Yes, using your u/gs (500-mi, CR-1, SWU) Yes, at same time as your u/g
North America Upgrades on other airlines No NW (unlimited) No CO (unlimited) No UA (4x500-mi/$325)
Systemwide Upgrades EXP 8 No PM 6 No 1K 6 CP 2 (Europe)
  AA CO DL NW UA US
Bonus Miles GLD 25%
PLT 100%
EXP 100%
SE 50%
GE 100%
PE 125%
SM 25%
GM 100%
PM 100%
SE 50%
GE 100%
PE 125%
2P 25%
1P 100%
1K 100%
SP 25%
GP 50%
PP 75%
CP 100%
US Hub Airports BOS/ DFW/ JFK/ LGA/ MIA/ ORD/ STL CLE/ EWR/ IAH ATL/ CVG/ SLC DTW/ MEM/ MSP DEN/ IAD/ LAX/ ORD/ SFO CLT/ LAS/ PHL/ PHX
Preferred Seating Yes Yes Yes Select Seats (free)
Coach Choice seats (free)
Economy Plus Yes
  AA CO DL NW UA US
Lifetime Status 1M miles=lifetime GLD
2M miles=lifetime PLT
Note: All miles count, not just flight miles.
No 1M MQMs=lifetime SM
2M MQMs=lifetime GM
4M MQMs=lifetime PM
No 1M UA flight miles=lifetime 1P No