Airline elite status is becoming less about how frequently travelers fly and more about how much they spend. Recent changes from United Airlines and Southwest Airlines highlight a broader shift across the U.S. airline industry, where flight purchases and cobranded credit card spending increasingly count toward loyalty benefits.
Starting in 2027, United MileagePlus members will not necessarily reach the airline’s highest status levels simply by taking the most flights. Spending on United flights and United’s Cobranded credit cards will play a larger role, while top-tier 1K status is also expected to become harder to earn.
Southwest Airlines has made a similar move toward card-based spending. Members seeking the Companion Pass will generally need to spend their way to the airline’s highest status tier or complete 100 flights in a year. The change closes a previous shortcut to one of Southwest’s most attractive benefits: allowing a designated companion to fly with the member under the pass’s terms.
The shift reflects a longer industry trend. Airlines increasingly value revenue generated through banking partnerships, allowing customers to earn elite credit through everyday purchases such as groceries and other merchant transactions. On some carriers, members can technically qualify for status without flying, although requirements vary and some programs still impose minimum flight rules.
Credit cards are also becoming more closely tied to the wider loyalty experience. United and Delta cardholders can receive access to better mileage redemption opportunities, while JetBlue is preparing exclusive elite benefits for members who hold its top-tier card. Other airlines offer credit card spending as a shortcut toward status.
The financial importance of these partnerships is substantial. Delta said it expects to generate a record $9 billion through its partnership with American Express, while American Airlines expects $8 billion this year from its relationship with Citibank. Beyond the revenue, airlines have an incentive to remain part of customers’ daily spending habits even when those customers are not traveling.
For travelers, the central question is whether the benefits still justify the cost. Elite status can provide savings, better seating and more flexible travel policies. Counting everyday spending toward qualification may also make status more attainable for people who do not travel constantly.
However, complimentary first-class upgrades have become more difficult to obtain, and qualification targets are becoming more expensive. Travelers should consider whether they regularly receive meaningful benefits such as extra-legroom seating, same-day flight changes or lounge access. If those perks are rarely used, abandoning airline-specific status may be more sensible than continuing to pursue it.
Travelers who decide to retain status may need to concentrate more of their spending on a preferred airline’s credit card. Even so, that strategy involves an opportunity cost: other cards can offer stronger rewards for categories such as dining, groceries or hotel spending. Flight purchases also typically provide more elite credit and points than ordinary card transactions, meaning frequent flyers may be able to reduce the amount of card spending required.
Status matches can provide a way to try another airline, but they are not a guaranteed long-term solution. Most major U.S. carriers now use some form of spending-based qualification, and members who receive a match often face demanding requirements to keep the benefits beyond the initial period.
While United and Southwest announced major program changes, Delta chose to maintain its existing approach for the following year. That contrast leaves travelers with a decision based less on prestige and more on value: whether the benefits they actually use are worth directing potentially large amounts of flying and everyday spending toward one airline.
Sources: The Points Guy.