It’s Called Fast Track and It Can Get You There with One-Fifth the Miles Usually Required
You might call it the E-Z Pass of the airline world. The major U.S. carriers offer a quick way to reach the bottom rung of the elite ladder—and the mid-tier level with a little more effort—called the Fast Track.
When we broke this story back in 1996, it proved to be the most read and commented upon article we’ve ever published. Today it’s seemingly the most discussed strategy on travel blogs and chat boards around the world.
Back in 1996, the elite applicant had to fly 8,000 miles on American, the only airline that offered the program. Once you were an AAdvantage elite, you simply requested the other U.S. airlines to match your status, which they would do in hope of gaining your loyalty.
Today, American still offers the challenge, but only requires you to fly 5,000 miles in three months—that’s one-fifth the number it requires for elite status—while the other carriers offer their own programs. You can’t just ask them to match your status on AA anymore as the rules have changed. (See chart on page 3 for earning rules, and on page 4 how to complete the Fast Track requirement for each carrier in one flight.)
Why Take the Fast Track Challenge?
For the non-elite: It yields benefits such as free domestic upgrades (based on availability), mileage bonuses of 25% (entry-level) and up, preferred economy seating, priority check-in and boarding, baggage-fee waiver and alliance benefits.
For the current elite: In a word: Hedging. Having elite status on a second carrier can increase your elite upgrade odds—by 100%—as you have more than one airline to work with. A second (double) booking means your upgrade opportunity will double the chances of getting a confirmation email with the good news. (Look at the change fees you’ll incur as a cost of hedging with the second booking.) It also offers you more airline-partner options, especially if you get elite status on a carrier that is a member of a different alliance than your primary carrier.
The Two Types of Fast Track
- Match-earned Elite Fast Track: This is for the person who already holds elite status with an airline. You can obtain elite status on another carrier by flying a certain number of miles in a given time period to show that you are elite caliber.
- Fee-earned Elite Fast Track: This is for the person going for elite status for the first time (although current elites can also use it). You pay a fee and you fly the required number of miles in a given time period.
What the Programs Have in Common
While each carrier’s program has its own wrinkles, the basics are the same: You must have a mileage account with the carrier; you must fly a certain number of miles in a 90-day period (3 months for American) to prove that you are worthy of elite status; you don’t get an elite membership card until after the 90 day try-out; and you don’t receive alliance-partner elite benefits during the 90 day try-out.
[aside headline="The Time to Go for Elite Fast Track is Now" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]The Fast Track programs covered in this article offers elite status through the end of January or February 2013. So to get the maximum benefit (up to 18 months), you should sign up right away and take to the air.[/aside]
Major Differences in Fast Track Programs
- American bases points earned on the type of fare paid. Full coach, Business, and First Class tickets earn the most points (1.5 per mile), so you can get entry level elite status even faster, after only 3,334 miles (say on a flight from LAX-Chicago r/t), versus the other carriers which award miles based on miles or segments flown (1 per mile/segment).
[aside headline="American’s Secret Review Status Match" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]In past years, in mid-to-late December, American has been known to review other airlines’ elites travel history for that year, and if it deems you elite-wor-thy, it may offer you the same match status for the following year. No flying required on your part.[/aside]
- All but one airline (American) lets you enjoy elite benefits during the 90-day trial period. (At times AA will make an exception, if you provide proof of your current elite status.) In other words, with the other carriers you can use the Fast Track program to gain access to elite service for one or two strategic trips during the trial. With AA, you need to be serious as you can’t enjoy the benefits during the challenge.
- American is also the only airline that counts code-share flights toward the fast-track mileage requirements.
- Continental and United are the only airlines that allow each others’ flights to count towards the fast-track goal.
- American and US Airways charge a non-refundable fee for their elite fast track programs.
[aside headline="Buy Top Elite Status" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]We all know that status can be bought and the airline world is no exception. US Airways offers a year’s entry level elite status for $1,499. Prices go up by the rung, reaching $3,999 for Chairman’s Preferred, the zenith. To get the most for your money, buy your status in January, as the status is only valid to the begin-ning of the following year.[/aside]
- American and United only offer elite fast track for low-to mid-tier status. Continental, Delta and US Airways include higher levels, but only US Airways permits fast-tracking for the top rung.
- Continental, Delta and United reciprocate current elite status: If you are entry-level on your primary carrier, you are entry-level with them (and so on).
- The no-investment, only-gain deal for current elites: Have one of the “match-earned elite” fast track programs (Continental, Delta and United match your elite status for 90 days. which you can use for a one-off trip.
Elite Fast Track Rules
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Top Three Fast Track Offers
Easiest and fastest for entry-level status
American: Gold elite can be obtained with only 5,000 points, which amounts to 3,334 flight miles if you buy full coach, Business, or First Class tickets.
Top-tier status, even for non-elites
Fly 30,000 EQMs or 40 EQSs—that’s only 5,000 EQMs more than the cost for entry-level elite—and you get to perch on the top rung, Chairman’s Preferred. That gets you four one-way upgrade certificates valid for travel to Europe, Hawaii, and South America, and 100% bonus miles.
Repeat fast track as often as you need
Only one airline, US Airways, lets you try the fast track again if you lapse after 12 months.
Elite Fast Track One Route Mileage Run
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