With US Airways' Trial Elite Status, the Perks Come Easy

Elite promotions are always a double-edged sword.

From the airlines' standpoint, more elite members means more customers with an extra-compelling reason to fly. And more perks translates into more loyalty, which in turn translates into more ticket revenue.

For travelers who stand to qualify for elite status as a result of the extra miles or easier qualification requirements, elite promotions mean an easier route to upgrades and other elite benefits.

So far, it's win-win.

But for program members who already hold elite status, opening the door to more elite members means a dilution of the benefits they earned the hard way. In particular, there are a limited number of elite upgrades to go around, so more competition means everyone gets somewhat less.

It is because of the potential to degrade the experience of existing elites—disgruntling their best customers and jeopardizing their future loyalty—that airlines are generally reluctant to make elite status easier to attain.

Nevertheless, US Airways has opened the door wide, at least on a limited-time basis, to new elites.

Offer Details

US Airways is awarding trial Silver Preferred status for 90 days to Dividend Miles members who register by August 15 and purchase a non-refundable ticket for travel beginning by September 15.

Qualifying tickets must be purchased on usairways.com for travel on US Airways or US Airways Express within the U.S.

Elite status will be extended for the rest of the year if you fly the required miles or segments during the 90-day trial period.

Not eligible for this offer: "Members who have been granted Preferred status as a result of having elite status in another airline's program in the last 24 months; members who did not requalify for the same Preferred status in 2010 as 2009; members who have participated in US Airways Preferred trial program any time in the last 24 months."

Deal or No Deal

If you already plan a domestic flight on US Airways over the summer, you can easily justify signing up for this on the basis of the elite perks for the qualifying flight alone—checked bag-fee waiver, priority check-in and boarding, and an upgrade (not likely) or Preferred seat (more likely).

Is this offer enough to warrant switching from another carrier to US Airways? There's no easy answer to that question—there are too many factors to consider. But it is worth considering.

Reader Reality Check

If you're already a US Airways elite, how do feel about this promotion?

If you're not a US Airways elite, is this offer a reason to fly US Airways to qualify for the trial?

Comments

[J Maxwell]

Update: I got Elite status until 15 September simply by buying the ticket at USAirways.com. I did change my Dividend Miles number to another Star Alliance carrier at check-in, thereby earning more useful miles in another account. Mr Winship was uncharacteristically wrong (or at the very least, unhelpful) with his "answers" to my questions.

[Tim Winship]

J Maxwell - The way I understand it, the trial elite status remains in effect for 90 days from the purchase date of the ticket, give or take a few days, even of that extends beyond Sept. 15.

I doubt very much you'd be able to use your Dividend Miles number to get elite status, then switch to a Star airline's FFP number to actually earn the miles. Assume their system is set up to flag/prevent such transactions, but I can't say for sure.

[J Maxwell]

Also, my second question was not addressed. The rules state: one's existing "Dividend Miles number must be included in the reservation AT THE TIME OF TICKET PURCHASE" (again, emphasis mine), but it is a trivial matter to change one's frequent flyer number afterwards. For example, if I did go on the flight, then I could get miles into a Star Alliance account where I have many more miles accumulated, thus getting more useful miles (I'm only a few thousand from a round-the-world business-class ticket).

I'd be very interested to hear your interpretation of these rules, as well as other members' experience with this promotion.

[J Maxwell]

I apologize if this sounds confrontational, but perhaps you didn't understand the question. I did read the article very closely - as well as the fine print on US Airways' promotion page linked above - but there are some finer points which remain unclear.

The fine print at USAirways.com states, "Allow one to seven days for Silver Preferred trial status to take effect FOLLOWING TICKET PURCHASE DATE" (emphasis mine).

Since one could buy a ticket now for travel on, say, September 15th, that mean that Silver Preferred membership would be valid from tomorrow (or a maximum of seven days from now) until September 15th? (I will be flying domestically a tremendous amount between now and then, so Silver status would be helpful for me - even for that brief period.)

[Tim Winship]

J Maxwell - Qualifying travel must begin by September 15, and it must be on US Airways or US Airways Express.

[J Maxwell]

Does one have to actually fly the qualifying flight? If so, can one fly it under another Star Alliance frequent flyer number?

[Michael]

The only advantage to Silver are the free baggage allowance and ability to get exit row seats-you almost never get upgraded=my wife is GOLD and has gotten upgraded about 80% of the time. I rarely can get an upgrade using miles even when booking early and the seat map shows lots of seats avaiable. Only use USAIR because of direct nonstops to PHX.

[Louise]

Well, I for one hate USAirways so am hardly tempted. I do however have an upcoming flight to Dublin, and once upon a time had a very satisfying transAtlantic flight upgrade on USAir, so might consider doing it except that the qualifying flight must be domestic. The way the airline has gone, however, a long flight would probably be torture.

[Nancy]

I have Platinum Elite with USAIR and can't get an upgrade on coast-to-coast US travel or any overseas travel. ANd I'm on the road all the time.

does anyone have a strategy for manging Star Alliance competing airlines? Is it better to concentrate miles with one or another?

[John]

I'm already platinum so this doesn't really bother me...but it would for sure if I was silver. 25,000 miles is still a worthy accomplishment.