The best credit cards to reach elite status

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.  

Chasing elite status with a hotel or airline can be addicting. Once you get a taste of the benefits (such as upgrades, lounge access, bonus points and enhanced customer service), it’s hard to give them up. Depending on how frequently you travel, you could easily get hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in value from elite status each year.

However, these lucrative perks come at a cost. Many airlines require customers to spend at least $3,000 in a year, and the major hotel chains typically require at least 10 nights per year to earn the lowest level of elite status. Even lower-tier members may need to spend a fair amount of cash to secure their status.

Luckily, numerous credit cards can help jump-start your progress toward elite status in the coming year. If you play your cards right (pun intended), you could have top-tier elite status in a major program by the time you finish reading this guide.

Related: End of the road for top-tier airline status: Why I’m not even going to try to requalify

The best credit cards for elite status overview

The information for the JetBlue Plus, Free Spirit, Frontier Airlines, Hilton Aspire and Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Why you should use a credit card to earn elite status

The higher you get in the world of elite status, the more incremental value there is in moving up to the next rung. For example, going from a general member with Marriott Bonvoy up to a Silver Elite won’t provide the most noticeable of differences.

However, there is a significant difference in moving from mid-tier Gold Elite status up to Platinum Elite status — thanks to increased earning rates on stays, Choice Benefit, guaranteed late checkout, and more.

Related: Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Although some credit cards offer you the ability to enjoy status outright just by carrying them, many also offer the ability to earn elite-qualifying miles or elite night credits to help bump you up to the next rung — done through spending on the card. In fact, many people will benefit from using credit cards to augment their actual travel plans and bump themselves up to a higher tier.

If you don’t travel enough to earn some form of elite status on your own, you may have trouble justifying the cost associated with earning that status and may have difficulty fully utilizing its benefits.

However, several programs offer status to anyone with the right credit card. If you’re not currently loyal to a single airline or hotel chain, you can use these offers to guide your credit card strategy. For instance, this is why I recommend that anyone who travels occasionally but not frequently open the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express for automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status. If you can use some of the card’s main perks and benefits, you’ll find that the annual fee is worth it.

Look into your favorite loyalty programs and their cobranded credit cards to see what types of status perks they may offer. Note that enrollment is required in advance for some credit card benefits.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Is it worth it?

Some credit cards on this list provide automatic status as a benefit to all cardholders, while some require you to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year to earn status or boost yourself to a higher tier. A good example is the cobranded American Airlines cards, which essentially let you spend your way to status.

Not everyone can spend the amount of money required responsibly, though, and you should never do anything to jeopardize your finances in pursuing elite status. Even if you can spend that amount, putting it all on one card sometimes comes with a huge opportunity cost.

It might mean you aren’t able to earn any sign-up bonuses on new cards, or it might mean you’ll miss out on valuable bonus categories from using other cards. You’ll have to analyze your travel patterns to ensure you’ll get enough value out of this new level of status to justify that opportunity cost.

Related: What exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

Other ways to earn elite status

With all this focus on credit cards, it can be easy to forget that many people earn status simply by traveling the requisite amount. Except for a few secretive unpublished top-tier ranks, most loyalty programs spell out quite clearly what you need to do to qualify for status. With U.S. airlines, you’re looking at a mix of a spending requirement and some combination of flight miles or flight segments, while hotels will tally your yearly nights and/or stays.

Another great option is to consider a status match or challenge. The exact terms vary from program to program; generally, with a status match, you’ll send the airline or hotel proof of your current elite status with one of their competitors, and they’ll offer you an equivalent tier of elite status in their own program for a promotional period. You may be able to extend that status by completing certain flight or stay requirements. This typically requires paid activity, though — no points and miles redemptions to meet the required activities.

Meanwhile, a status challenge allows anyone to start from scratch and leapfrog up to a higher status tier by completing a designated amount of travel during a promotional period, often about three months.

Airline elite status

Although no credit card currently available to new applicants provides elite status automatically with any of the major U.S. airlines (some cards will give you status on foreign carriers), many allow cardholders to earn incremental credits toward status. They might just be the boost you need to jump into the elite ranks or reach a higher tier.

Depending on how much you spend on your card, you may be able to earn status without ever setting foot on a plane. Below, we look at airline credit cards that fall into this camp.

American Airlines

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is our top pick for earning status with American Airlines, but it isn’t your only option.

If you want to keep your annual fee costs lower and still earn Loyalty Points toward elite status, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. Both cards have lower annual fees and still allow cardholders to earn Loyalty Points on all purchases.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator Red card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Annual fee: $595

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Elite status: For every mile you earn on a cobranded American Airlines credit card, such as this one, you’ll earn 1 elite-qualifying Loyalty Point. This means that you can essentially spend your way to status and to Elite Choice Rewards. Remember that sign-up bonuses and category multipliers are excluded from earning Loyalty Points.

Unfortunately, credit card sign-up bonuses and category multipliers are excluded from earning Loyalty Points. Cardholders earn a bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. They will receive another bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Points after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year.

Analysis: Having this card is much like having elite status — without the first-class upgrades. You get free checked bags, priority access on the ground and lounge access. Plus, spending on the card will help you earn Loyalty Points toward earning actual elite status.

For more details, see our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.

Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Delta Air Lines

Delta offers a nice variety of cobranded credit cards with American Express, four personal cards and three business cards, but choosing the best one for you can be difficult.

If you want the most from a Delta card, you’re better off going for its most premium products: the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, which is geared toward business travelers.

For those who want a fast track to status with a lower annual fee credit card, try the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. It earns 1 MQD for every $20 spent and earns a boost of $2,500 each qualification year.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends April 2.

Elite status: Delta Reserve Amex cardmembers earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending. They also receive an MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs each year.

Analysis: The Delta Reserve is excellent for Delta flyers, as it offers access to the most valuable perks of elite status — such as complimentary upgrades, lounge access and priority boarding — right off the bat.

For more details, see our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Spirit Airlines

As far as budget airlines go, it’s nice to see Spirit Airlines offer two credit cards to frequent flyers. You have the lower-tier Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard®, but there is also a card tailored for frequent flyers, the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®.

Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $79

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points plus a $100 companion flight voucher after making at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening.

Elite status: You won’t earn Free Spirit status through this credit card, but you can enjoy similar perks. Those include Group 2 shortcut boarding and a 25% rebate on inflight food and beverage purchases when paying with your Free Spirit Travel More card.

For more details, see our full review of the Free Spirit Travel More card.

The information for the Free Spirit Travel and Free Spirit Travel More card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Frontier Airlines

In partnership with Barclays, Frontier offers the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, which can be a good option for those committed to the airline and earning status.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Annual fee: $89

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening.

Elite status: All miles you earn with this card are both award miles and elite-qualifying miles, so you can earn any level of Frontier status simply based on spending.

Analysis: Frontier may not offer the most valuable elite status out there, but earning any level of status simply based on spending with your credit card makes life simple.

For more details, see our full review of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Related: The best credit cards to use on low-cost carriers

The information for the Frontier Airlines card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue offers three personal and one business credit card through Barclays, all of which offer a pathway to status through spending.

JetBlue Plus Card

Annual fee: $99

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and pay the annual fee in full within the first 90 days of account opening.

Elite status: You can qualify for the four tiers of JetBlue Mosaic elite status purely through credit card spending — from $50,000 for Level 1 to $250,000 for Level 4, both based on calendar-year spending.

Analysis: While earning Mosaic status purely through spending with this card is nice, it’s an expensive option. Mosaic Level 1 status can be achieved by earning 50 Tiles, which requires $5,000 of spending with JetBlue, $50,000 of JetBlue credit card spending or a combination of the two.

For more details, see our full review of the JetBlue Plus Card.

The information for the JetBlue Plus has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest offers frequent flyers several options for credit cards. With three personal cards and two business cards, it can be hard to decide which card is right for you. However, if you’re after A-List status and a Southwest Companion Pass, then the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the card for you.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $149

Welcome offer: Earn a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/26 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Elite status: You can earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for each $5,000 spent on purchases annually, and there’s no limit to how many TQPs you can earn. This can help you get to A-List status with Southwest. All points earned with this card, including the sign-up bonus, count toward Companion Pass eligibility, too.

Analysis: This card is great for Southwest flyers, as it gives you a shortcut to both A-List status and the Companion Pass. The $99-per-year Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers the same sign-up bonus and TQP-earning benefit but falls short of the Priority card because it lacks valuable benefits like the $75 annual Southwest travel credit, plus it only offers 6,000-anniversary points.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For more details, see our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

United Airlines

If you’re interested in United Club access and credit card purchases counting toward elite status, then the United Club Infinite Card is an excellent choice. However, if you prefer a lower annual fee and still some elitelike perks, then the United Quest℠ Card is also a solid option.

United Club Infinite Card

Annual fee: $525

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Elite status: Cardholders can earn up to 15,000 PQPs per calendar year by earning 1 PQP for every $15 spent on the card.

Other cobranded United cards with lower annual fees and fewer benefits also earn PQPs toward elite status. The United℠ Explorer Card earns 1 PQP per $15 spent for up to 15,000 PQPs per year (note that these bonus PQPs only count toward status up to Premier Platinum). Meanwhile, the United Quest℠ Card earns 1 PQP per every $20 you spend on purchases with your card — up to 9,000 PQPs each calendar year

Analysis: This card offers many elitelike perks, including Premier Access travel services and United Club access at the airport. That said, you can also use it to shortcut your way to actual elite status through spending.

For more details, see our full review of the United Club Infinite Card.

Apply here: United Club Infinite Card

Hotel elite status

Hotel chains are a lot more generous than airlines when it comes to giving away elite status. You can get automatic elite status with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG without staying at any of their properties or putting any spending on your card.

Hilton Honors

The Hilton Aspire is a no-brainer for elite status with Hilton Honors. However, if you don’t prefer a hefty annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides a pathway to elite status for a lower annual fee.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first six months of card membership.

Elite status: Enjoy automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status.

Analysis: This card is a must-have for Hilton fans. Automatic Diamond status is as good as it gets, with perks like guaranteed lounge access (at properties that have them), suite upgrades, free breakfast or food-and-beverage credits and more.

For more details, see our full review of the Amex Hilton Aspire card.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

IHG One Rewards

Although the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you can also opt for a business version of the card as a business owner or the lower annual fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Annual fee: $99

Welcome offer: Earn 170,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Elite status: Enjoy automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite and move up to Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card within a calendar year.

For business owners who prefer IHG hotels, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card also offers the same elite status and pathway to Diamond status.

Analysis: As long as you spend more than a few nights a year at IHG properties, Platinum Elite status alone can be worth the card’s $99 annual fee. Standout perks include 60% bonus points on paid stays, discounts on reward redemption rates, room upgrades, late checkout and a welcome amenity.

For more details, see our full review of the IHG Premier card.

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy

Credit cards issued as cobranded Marriott Bonvoy cards are unique in the sense that both American Express and Chase have their own lineup of cards. But if you want the most from your Marriott portfolio hotel stays, go with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, as it offers the highest elite status as a cardmember.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Elite status: Enjoy complimentary Platinum Elite status, which provides benefits like upgrades at check-in (including suites, when available), late checkout and a welcome amenity for each stay. Each calendar year, you also receive credit for 25 nights to help you reach the next level of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

If you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, you can opt for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, which offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and 15 elite night credits each calendar year. Another option is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card or Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express, each of which offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

For more details, see our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

American Express

This is a unique choice for hotel elite status because, as a premium travel credit card, the Amex Platinum offers automatic elite status to two hotel brands.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Elite status: Cardmembers can register for automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

For business owners, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also provides elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, just like the personal Amex Platinum card (enrollment required).

Analysis: This is easily the best card for hotel stays across several top hotel brands. You can register for Gold elite status with both Hilton and Marriott but also enjoy highly valuable elitelike benefits on Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) stays. Every FHR stay includes perks such as complimentary room upgrades when available, check-in at noon, 4 p.m. checkout, and on-site food and beverage credits. (Enrollment is required).

For more details, see our full review of the Amex Platinum card.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt is a favorite among TPG staffers and points and miles enthusiasts alike. The program’s stellar redemption rates and growing portfolio have given Hyatt an edge in the marketplace. For business owners, there’s also the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card which offers similar perks to the personal version.

Rest assured, both options offer a way to earn higher elite status with World of Hyatt.

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Earn up to 65,000 bonus points: 35,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Elite status: Automatic Hyatt Discoverist status, although you also receive five qualifying night credits toward the next level of elite status each year and the opportunity to earn two additional night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

Similiarly, the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card also provides automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status, plus the ability to gift this status to up to five employees. Cardholders also earn five tier-qualifying nights for each $10,000 spent on the card, helping you earn higher levels of status and Milestone Rewards.

Analysis: Discoverist status is among the most valuable lowest-tier hotel elite status levels. It comes with a 10% points bonus when staying at Hyatt properties, space-available upgrades to preferred rooms within the same category, daily bottled water, complimentary premium internet, late checkout and access to the elite reservation line. Higher levels of status are also within reach if you’re willing to put some spending on the card.

An added bonus? If you reach Hyatt Explorist elite status or higher and have linked your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts, you might be offered a status match or challenge for American Airlines elite status.

For more details, see our full review of the World of Hyatt card.

Apply here: World of Hyatt Credit Card

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards offers a few credit cards, and the program is lesser known among the other hotel titans and their loyalty programs. If you prefer solid redemption rates, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is a good choice.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

Annual fee: $75

Sign-up bonus: Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.

Elite status: Cardholders receive automatic mid-tier Platinum status.

If you desire higher status with Wyndham, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card offers automatic top-tier Diamond status.

Analysis: Wyndham’s Platinum status doesn’t offer suite upgrades, but it offers all the other perks you probably want in hotel status (early check-in, preferred rooms and bonus points earning). That, plus a 10% discount on points redemptions, can easily justify the card’s $75 annual fee.

For more details, see our full review of the Wyndham Earner Plus card.

The information for the Wyndham Rewards Plus card and Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Comparing the best hotel elite status tiers and how to earn them

Bottom line

Many airline or hotel-cobranded cards that offer status boosts typically aren’t the best for everyday spending when you consider the points they earn and the rates at which you earn them. Aside from that, spending simply to get to elite status might not be entirely logical for folks who don’t travel that much, since they won’t utilize the status benefits enough to make it worthwhile. However, if you do spend a decent amount of time on the road and need help reaching elite status faster, the credit cards discussed in this guide can be extremely useful.

Already have elite status? Check to see what airline and hotel status match options are available to you. Just note that status that’s been granted or obtained through credit cards (rather than earned the traditional way) may not be enough for a match.

Related guides:

• Best travel credit cards
• Best hotel credit cards
• Best credit cards for airfare purchases
• Best credit cards for gas purchases
• Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire, click here.