Travelers with elite status often enjoy a range of privileges, such as complimentary breakfast, flight upgrades, and other exclusive perks. These benefits are not only limited to the elite traveler but can also extend to their companions when they travel together. However, what options are available when your family or friends travel without you? Fortunately, there are programs that allow you to gift elite status to someone else, providing them with similar privileges and benefits during their travels.
One such program is Hyatt’s Guest of Honor program. While World of Hyatt does not offer a direct option to gift status, they provide an alternative that may be even more valuable. The Guest of Honor program allows Hyatt loyalists to earn their first Guest of Honor award each calendar year after 40 nights or 65,000 base points. The recipient of the Guest of Honor award will enjoy all the in-hotel benefits typically enjoyed by Globalist members during their stay.
Air Canada’s Aeroplan program also offers the option to gift elite status. Their 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members can select Status Pass through Select Benefit Bundles. Super Elite members receive two passes each year as a Core Benefit. Status Pass allows elite members to share their privileges with another traveler, even when not traveling together. The recipients of the passes will receive benefits such as priority check-in, priority baggage handling, access to Maple Leaf lounges, and more.
Alaska Airlines offers a similar option for their elite members. Once you earn Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K status during a calendar year, you can share MVP status with a friend or family member. This can be done by completing a form on Alaska’s website to designate the recipient. Additionally, if you earn MVP Gold 100K status during a calendar year, you can select one 100K Choice Benefit for the following year, which includes upgrading the individual you nominated for MVP status to MVP Gold status.
American Airlines AAdvantage program allows you to gift status to another person at various Loyalty Point milestones through Loyalty Point Rewards. Depending on the number of Loyalty Points you have, you can choose to gift AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum status to someone else.
Delta Air Lines offers a similar gifting option for their Platinum Medallion or Diamond Medallion members. These members can select Delta Choice Benefits as a token of their accomplishment, which includes the ability to gift Silver Medallion or Gold Medallion status to someone else.
Hilton Honors provides a gifting option for members who stay with them for 60 or more eligible nights within a calendar year. By meeting this requirement, you can gift Gold status to another member. If you stay for 100 or more nights within a calendar year, the gift is upgraded to Diamond status. Once you meet the required number of nights, you will receive an email containing a code that can be used to gift status to another member.
Marriott Bonvoy also offers the option to gift status to another member. Once you reach the 50 and 75 elite night milestones in a calendar year, you become eligible for annual Choice Benefits. Instead of choosing Suite Night Awards, you can opt to gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite or Gold Elite status to another member.
In conclusion, if you have elite status with an airline or hotel loyalty program, you have the opportunity to share the privileges and benefits with your family or friends when they travel without you. Various programs, such as Hyatt’s Guest of Honor, Air Canada’s Status Pass, American Airlines’ Enhance with Miles, Delta’s Delta Choice Benefits, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy, allow you to gift elite status for a day, stay, or extended period. By gifting elite status, you can enhance the travel experience for your loved ones and make their trips more enjoyable.