FirstClassFlyer

Worth the Deal? Only if elite is a must.

Last month, FCF highlighted 21 credit cards with one focus: earning points that can be transferred into miles on airlines offering the most lucrative premium travel opportunities.

In the report, FCF included our new Credit Card-iogram and highlighted how credit cards are a two-way street: earning and spending.

This month, part two, we add to our Credit Card-iogram those cards whose focus is to earn elite qualifying miles (EQMs) and/or elite qualifying dollars (EQDs).

Elite… If You Must

As many long-time FCF readers know, we’ve written about the elite subject many times over the last 22 years, from day one. Our view is that you should have an Elite-Status Declaration of Independence mindset; more on that here. But we also know that many of you have reasons to remain elite focused. So, here are the three major airlines offering elite qualifying miles- or dollars-earning credit cards (which, by the way, have also been added to our Credit Card-iogram).

Two American Elite Status Earning Cards

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, $450 annual fee.
AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard, $195 annual fee.

The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard earns 10,000 EQMs after you spend $40,000. It also comes with Admirals Club access.

Current AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard members can contact Barclaycard customer service to inquire about upgrading to the AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard. The Aviator Silver card earns 10,000 EQMs after spending $40,000, and it also earns 6,000 EQDs after you spend $50,000.

Get both cards (as they are issued by two different banks), meet the spending requirement on both, and earn up to 20,000 EQMs per year.

Two Delta Elite Status Earning Cards

Delta Reserve Card, $450 annual fee.
Platinum Delta Card, $195 annual fee.

The most EQMs can be earned with the Delta Reserve card. You get 10,000 EQMs after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus you can earn another 15,000 EQMs after you spend $30,000, and another 15,000 EQMs after you spend $60,000 in one year, so a total of 40,000 EQMs. It also comes with lounge access.

The Platinum Delta card earns 5,000 EQMs after you spend $1,000 in your first three months, plus you can earn another 10,000 EQMs after you spend $25,000, and another 10,000 EQMs after you spend $50,000 in one year, so a total of 25,000 EQMs.

If you don’t meet the required EQDs spend, both cards have a built-in waiver. You can keep your elite status for Platinum, Gold, and Silver if you’ve earned the required elite miles or segments and spend at least $25,000 on the card (for Diamond status you must spend $250,000) within that qualification year.

JetBlue Elite Status Earning CardS

JetBlue Plus Card, $99 annual fee.

Simple: spend $50,000 and you’re an elite.

Alaska and United Elite Status Earning Cards