What to Know About Airline Million Miler Status

If you tend to book whichever flight is cheapest, you might want to rethink your strategy. Loyalty is often rewarded, and frequent fliers that stick with one airline for the long haul can gain exclusive perks. Million miler status is an elusive, hard-to-reach status awarded to those who fly one million miles or more with an airline.

A handful of airlines recognize million miler status, but, argues Gilbert Ott, the director of partnerships at Point.me, "Two million or three million is the new one million."

“At one million, people are typically getting a lifetime of low or middle tier elite status which will guarantee bolted-on benefits when flying with the airline (and often with partners),” he explains. People are flying more than ever, so it makes sense that coveted benefits are more challenging to reach now than they might have been a few years ago. Here’s everything you need to know about million miler status. 

How to Qualify

The qualifications to reach million miler status are actually quite simple: fly one million miles. This is easier said than done, however. David Rimmer, CEO at AB Aviation Group, says it took him over 15 years to reach million miler status, which he has with Delta and American. “Just as status has become more difficult to attain, million miler status has, too, over the years,” says Rimmer.

Benefits of Million Miler Programs

The benefits of being a million miler will depend on the specific program and your level. Mainly, you’ll earn lifetime elite status. “As far as gifts, there's not a lot,” says Ott. “Sometimes it's a piece of luggage, sometimes it's just a sterling silver key chain or bag tag, or bottle of champagne.”

Each time you add a million miles, your perks increase. “Two million and three million is really the new threshold for those George Clooney, 'Up In The Air' style benefits, and realistically, it's actually over four million where those really happen,” explains Ott. “Five million on Delta gets you annual "invite only" 360 status with the airline, which often includes Porsche rides to connections and a personal meet and greet for some flights.”

Apart from elite status and a few gifts here and there, the main benefit is knowing you’ve reached a threshold few others have reached.

Comparing Million Miler Programs

Four U.S. airlines offer a million miler program: Delta, United, American, and Alaska. Although the programs are essentially the same, there are a few distinct differences to be aware of.

American Airlines

After flying one million miles, you earn lifetime AAdvantage Gold status and 35,000 bonus miles. After two million miles, you earn AAdvantage Platinum status and four one-way upgrades, plus four more for each additional million miles you earn.

“American, interestingly, hasn't prioritized these lifetime milestones,” says Ott. “They have a million miler program, but it doesn't ramp up with each threshold of million miles the way the other two do.” With lifetime AAdvantage Gold status, you get perks like priority check-in at the business class counter, Group 4 boarding, and one free checked bag.

Delta Air Lines

Delta has several levels of million miler status. Each level comes with an annual medallion status, higher priority for complimentary upgrades, and special bag tags. You can also choose from a selection of gifts each time you hit a million miles.

• One million: Gold Medallion status
• Two million: Platinum Medallion status
• Three and four million: Diamond Medallion status
• Five+ million: Delta 360

“Even if my flying falls off, I still have access to complimentary space-available upgrades and complimentary preferred seating and mileage bonuses,” says Rimmer. He also says you get a dedicated customer service line and mentioned that you get a better experience than you typically do without status. When Rimmer became a million miler, he received a Tumi roller bag from Delta, which he still uses today.

United Airlines

United works similarly to Delta. Each level comes with an annual Premier elite status and the opportunity to share your status with a spouse or someone who lives with you. With each million miles, you receive a higher level of status.

• One million: Premier Gold status
• Two million: Premier Platinum status
• Three million: Premier 1K status
• Four million: United Global Services

Alaska Airlines

At one million miles, you earn lifetime MVP Gold status and a complimentary meal when meals are served in the main cabin on their flights. At two million miles, you’ll receive lifetime MVP Gold 75k status. If you want to aim for an even higher status, you will receive 20,000 elite qualifying miles each calendar year. You can also share your elite status with someone in your household for life. If you earn a higher elite status than your lifetime status gives you, you can also share that one.

Bottom Line

Loyalty is rewarded, but sometimes it’s less rewarding than expected. If you fly frequently enough to make it to one million miles, you probably already have elite status with that airline. The programs that allow you to extend status to someone in your household or send million miler exclusive gifts can provide some value, but you’ll likely get significantly more benefits by just reaching a higher tier of elite status with your favorite airline. However, there's always the perk of having million miler bragging rights.