What It Really Means To Have Ultra-Elite Airline Status And The Perks You'll Enjoy

That moment you arrive at your final destination feels like you've finally kickstarted your vacation. But what if you can enjoy the journey just as much and begin your trip from the moment you set foot in the airport? Frequent flyers either travel cheaply on a budget or travel regularly for business — spending thousands of dollars each month or visiting the most expensive travel destinations in the U.S. Luckily, if you're one of the latter and you spend a fortune on travel, you might just be lucky to receive the crème de la crème of travel stats and memberships — none other than ultra-elite airline status. In fact, for those who travel regularly, ultra-elite status isn't just a convenience — it's a lifestyle upgrade that redefines what it means to fly. 

What does this actually mean?  The exclusivity by being invite-only and only eligible for frequent travelers who are super high spenders gives access to travel perks that are personalized and designed to make each traveler's journey as comfortable, effortless, and luxurious as possible depending on their tailored needs. Perks include dedicated concierge teams, priority boarding, guaranteed last-minute seat availability, and exclusive upgrades that can only be acknowledged through experience. Different airlines offer ultra-elite status in their own loyalty programs such as ConciergeKey with American Airlines, Delta's exclusive Delta 360, and other international iterations. 

The first thing you need to know is that ultra-elite status is not something you can apply for and no one truly understands the requirements of what makes someone eligible, except spending fistfuls of money on travel. You're either invited or not, it's like the exclusive secret party that no one knows where or when it's happening, but you either get an invite message or you don't. 

However, to qualify you need to spend over $50,000 annually on tickets at least with some people flying up to 350,000 miles per year. While the privileges of standard elite status still offer priority boarding and upgrades, ultra-elite status comes with exclusivity to unpublished perks and priority treatment with any type of customer service. The discretion and secrecy in how to obtain an ultra-elite status are part of its allure and temptation. Being by invitation only makes it even more special and makes one feel truly unique to gain that membership without even asking for it. Sometimes, in loyalty programs such as Delta 360 or United Global Services, members can often only find out about the perks by experiencing it first-hand, adding to its uniqueness. 

Travel privileges beyond first-class travel include chauffeur-driven transfers between gates, access to exclusive airport lounges, and even guaranteed last-minute seat availability. American's ConciergeKey allows members to receive fast-tracking through security and immigration. But that's not all, members of ultra-elite stats receive personalized services and VIP treatment such as personalized concierge, dedicated phone lines, and exceptional service where staff study their profiles and anticipate their needs even before demanding it.

When staying at a hotel, this status could come with free upgrades to private suites when available or personalized and impeccable hospitality. When it comes to business travel, the perks are definitely worth it with flexible rebooking, waived cancellation fees, and the ability to earn more miles and points. If there are flight delays or cancellations, this status allows for alternatives to quickly be sorted out to allow business to continue normally. With this status, you don't have to worry about any hiccups and your flight will go on.