If you’re a frequent traveler, you very likely have a frequent flyer account with one or more airlines. You likely have an airline that is the biggest player in your local market and you probably fly that the most. If you live near a hub for one of them that’s doubly true. For decades now, travelers have chased elite statuses with various airlines and there’s a whole industry devoted to maximizing your points or miles these days.
But is airline status worth it in 2026?
What does airline status get you?
What each airline offers to their specific status tiers is slightly different but the overall perks are similar. They include:
- Priority check-in at the front desk and the gate.
- Waived baggage fees.
- Chances to be upgraded.
There are a wide variety of additional perks, like bonuses on car rentals (I didn’t say discounts), or access to lounges. Obviously, what benefits you get change based on how much status you have with any given line.
How you earn the status has changed
If you’ve been paying attention to these programs in the last couple years, you likely know this has been a frustration point for many loyal flyers. As I primarily fly Delta, I am most keenly aware of their program changes. Suffice it to say that many status holders feel these programs have hit some rough air.
Overall, the way that status has been earned has shifted from a mix of traveling with an airline frequently and spending money on flights toward a focus only on spend. This means that even though you might fly ten times a year on round trips, you may not even hit the entry level of status if you chose inexpensive tickets. Conversely, if you pay for one flight that is expensive you can earn status by taking to the skies just once.
Are the perks good at least?
I want to be clear about this, I have Gold Medallion status on Delta and I’ve had Silver for years before that. I travel much more than the average person, and Delta is my preferred airline. Having that status makes travel a bit nicer. I get to use the Sky Priority check-in line and I have extra weight limits on my checked bags. What I have never gotten, though, is the most coveted perk, an upgrade to first class.
Most airlines have prioritized offering cheap upgrade costs on flights that have unsold premium seats as opposed to handing out free upgrades. One time this year I upgraded from Comfort Plus to First for four dollars. Yes, $4.00. That’s not a typo and it was on a three hour long flight, not some 30 minute connection flight. Now that’s unusually low, but I’ve taken other flights with upgrade costs in the $100-200 range for multi hour flights.
We’ve even been told from a rep at one airline (which one will remain nameless to protect the rep) that the airline felt that they were giving too many free seats away so they’ve cut that out as much as they can.
What should you do?
In my opinion, having status on an airline is becoming more and more expensive and less and less worth it. Instead, if you travel a couple times a year, a credit card can replace most of those benefits from status.
Each airline offers some baggage fees waived with their cards. The carriers also offer higher annual fee cards that include lounge access, priority check in, and partner discounts. Perks similar to what you get for status with those same airlines.
Is airline status worth it in 2026? Not really, to be blunt. If the perks matter to you, get a credit card instead.
Take, for comparison, Gold Medallion status on Delta. To earn the status, one must spend $10,000 on flights per year. The benefits for that tier are all well and good, but you get similar benefits simply by having a Delta Amex card. Even their Gold card, at $150/year, gets first checked bag free. That means that if you take two round trip travels per year with checked luggage, the card will pay for itself.
Now, strictly speaking, none of this is necessary. Status and credit cards are just a way to make going through the airport a little better. Don’t get me wrong, it does make it better, but it’s something that’s just a question of what matters to you. If being a little more comfortable is important or if checked bag fees being waived starts to make sense mathematically, then I would say get the card, don’t worry about status, and fly the airline with the best fare in the cabin category you want.
