Would you be satisfied with a Gold or Platinum that you already consider out of reach? Some frequent flyer programs offer even more exclusive status! Almost impossible to get to, or by invitation only, they are often discreet and only for the happy few.
En voici un rapide panorama.
- Air France Club 2000
- American Airlines Concierge Key
- British Airways Executive Premier
- Delta 360
- Emirates Invitation Only
- Quantas Chairman Lounge
- United Global Services
- United Chairmans Club
Air France Club 2000
Air France Club 2000 status is by invitation only, discretionary and offered according to widely varying criteria.
It can be offered to VIPs (statesmen, business leaders, celebrities) as well as influencers or people who have an impact on the brand. It does not reward loyalty, but rather a person’s media and social status. Some Club 2000s fly mainly with the competition, but granting them this status is a good way of trying to change their minds.
Club 2000 status is in fact a “platinum plus”. The Club 2000 passenger will always have a little more priority than a platinum, a little more attention and a little more chance of being upgraded.
If you’ve heard a rumor that Club 2000 members have access to the La Première lounge regardless of their class of travel and even if they fly with the competition, well…it’s a rumor.
Of the three TravelGuys authors, one is a Club 2000 member, another has never been a Club 2000 member, and the 3rd has had his membership withdrawn for expressing a negative opinion of the airline in the media.
A new status seems to have emerged just before the COVID crisis: the Hippocampe status. As the Club 2000 card was misused because it was given to too many passengers, this status would be designed to reward “real” VIPs. To be continued…
Air France Platinum/Club 2000 Ultimate
This status is not discretionary, and the conditions of access are very clear. It’s “enough” to obtain 1800 UXP in 24 months. Since UXPs are earned exclusively on Air France and KLM flights, this is no mean feat.
You might ask, but does that mean caviar and champagne on every flight? Well, no. Systematic access to the La Première lounge ? No way! A travel assistant certainly less knowledgeable than his passengers… And not much else, apart from a Platinum card that you can give to a family member, lounge access for more than one guest, and reserved space in the airline’s lounges. And finally, a trickle of upgrade certificates.
And a little more recognition on board, but that’s where it ends: you won’t always be sitting in Business.
American Airlines Concierge Key
To obtain it, you’ll need to fly 200,000 miles and spend $50,000 at American Airlines within the year.
This status gives you 10 upgrade vouchers valid in virtually all classes and on all destinations.
From the moment you step out of your cab to the moment you board the plane, you’ll be escorted at all times by American Airlines teams.
Of course, you benefit from Fast Tracks and have access to the check-in counters, the lounge and all services reserved for First passengers.
For the record, this was the status popularized by the general public in the film “Up in the Air”.
British Airways Executive Premier
You’ll have a dedicated booking team and phone line, escort and fast track access at the airport, and priority upgrades over everyone else.
For good measure, you’ll have access to the prestigious Concorde Room at Heathrow.
Rumor has it that if you’re running late, your flight will be waiting for you within half an hour. Fact or fiction?
Delta 360
The Delta 360 is an invitation-only status, so its criteria may be questionable and its award biased. Rumor has it that it’s not just a function of expenses, but also of the customer’s social status (for example, whether he has a say in his business’s travel policy and can encourage people to fly on Delta). Delta modestly says that the Delta 360 depends on “your overall investment in Delta”.
You’ll have a dedicated concierge team. For short connections, a Porsche will take you to the tarmac, and a personal escort at the airport will allow you to avoid any queue. It is said that upgrading to business is almost automatic.
Emirates Invitation Only
To be eligible for Emirates Invitation Only status, you must either spend $1 million a year with Emirates (presumably for the business run by the member) or fly more than 50 business or first class flights a year with the airline.
That just makes you eligible, then you have to be invited, and here the criteria are not known.
The Emirates iO card is then hand delivered to the customer, who will be given a dedicated telephone number to call to reach the airline, where a person will be dedicated exclusively to him.
A limousine service is available for transfers to and from the airport.
On every flight, a member of Emirates staff will accompany you from check-in to the lounge, and from the lounge to the aircraft in a Limousine.
Then there are all kinds of rumors that surround this status. Invitations to all Emirates-sponsored events? The ability to order any dish and enjoy it in flight? Bring 10 guests to the lounge? We don’t know, we’ve never tried.
Qantas Chairmans Lounge
All members of the program are “validated” by the Chairman of Qantas himself. The status is valid for 2 years, after which it must be renewed.
As with most statutes of this type, you’ll enjoy frequent free upgrades, personalized assistance at the airport and access to First check-in and lounges, but that’s not all.
In Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth, you’ll have access to the secretive Chairman Lounge, rumored to be the location of only 1,000 people, where a team of concierges will attend to your every need.
United Global Services
The conditions of access to United Global Services vary from person to person, but a minimum expenditure of $50,0000 or having flown 200,000 miles in the year is common. The status can also be acquired after flying 4 million miles on flights sold and operated by United.
Global Services status offers you luxury car ground transfers, upgrades and personalized airport escorts.
If that sounds too mundane, you can always try the Chairmans Club.
United Chairmans Club
Chairmans Club members are personally approved by the airline’s president. There would only be a few hundred members, and for good reason: the status would be reserved for business leaders who spend more than $5 million a year on United.
In addition to all the benefits that go with such status (assistants, transfers, upgrades, priority for just about anything), this status gives you free tickets to discover new destinations offered by the airline, and invitations to free dinners in one of the airline’s “Flagship Lounges”.
Credit: g-stockstudio /iStockphoto
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