20 Percent of Top-Tier Airline Elites Could Lose Status in 2019
Photo Credit: American and United regional jets side-by-side, as operated by Mesa Air Group Mesa Air Group
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Thanks to new program changes, 20 percent of top-tier American and United frequent flyers could face losing their status this year if their travel habits don't change.
New data surveying the ranks of top-tier frequent flyers suggests that due to program changes in 2019, 20 percent are at risk of not qualifying for the same tier of elite status.
Airline elite status is typically earned when a frequent flyer spends enough time in the air — and money on the airline — to receive a select tier of perks in return. On American, Delta, and United, the lowest tier of elite status is earned after flying 25,000 miles and spending $3,000.
The data comes from an informal social media survey conducted of top-tier Executive Platinum elites on American Airlines. Ramon Kolb, an Executive Platinum member on the airline and a data hob
