Mostly PointsAirline status is getting harder to understand at exactly the moment you need to start planning for next year. Southwest is rebuilding its program. United is changing how you qualify. Alaska and Hawaiian are giving you a choice in how you earn. JetBlue is changing its perks.
Before you commit a year of flights or credit card spending to one airline, you need to know what that loyalty will actually get you.
This guide covers American, Delta, United, Alaska/Hawaiian, Southwest, and JetBlue, with the focus on earning status during 2027. It uses announced changes and current published rules as of October 28, 2026. Where a new qualification cycle has not been separately confirmed, that distinction is called out.
The Mostly Points approach: start with the trips you expect to take, then choose the status that improves those trips at a reasonable cost.
First, get the year right
“2027 status” and “earning status in 2027” can describe different things.
You may enter January with benefits earned through your 2026 activity. Meanwhile, the flights and eligible spending you complete during 2027 build your next qualification total. Reaching a tier can unlock benefits before that earning year ends, with an expiration date set by the program.
American also uses a different calendar: its qualification year runs from March 1 through the last day of February. January and February 2027 still belong to the cycle that began in March 2026. The next cycle starts March 1, 2027. American’s status overview
Keep two things on your planning sheet: the dates when activity counts and the date your benefits expire. A tier name alone does not tell you either one.
The six programs at a glance
| Program | What measures your progress | What matters for 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | Loyalty Points | March-to-February qualification; new March 2027 cycle needs a final check |
| Delta SkyMiles | Medallion Qualification Dollars, or MQDs | Same thresholds for 2027 earning, according to Delta’s confirmation to TPG |
| United MileagePlus | Premier Qualifying Points, or PQP | PQP-only tier targets; four United/United Express flights still required |
| Alaska/Hawaiian Atmos Rewards | Status points | Choose flight earning by distance, eligible price, or segments |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Tier Qualifying Points, or TQPs, or qualifying flights | New Silver, Gold, Platinum, milestones, and Companion Pass structure |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Tiles | New perk menus from February 1; tier thresholds remain in the announced structure |
The program sections below provide the sources and details behind this comparison. Redeemable points and status credit are different balances: a large welcome bonus or bank-points transfer does not automatically move you closer to elite status.
American: build status through Loyalty Points
American’s current published structure uses Loyalty Points from eligible flying, card purchases, and participating partners. These are the thresholds in effect for the qualification period ending February 28, 2027. Requirements for the cycle beginning March 1, 2027 have not been separately confirmed as of October 28, 2026; use these as the current planning baseline, not a guarantee of that next cycle.
| Tier | Current Loyalty Point requirement |
|---|---|
| Gold | 40,000 |
| Platinum | 75,000 |
| Platinum Pro | 125,000 |
| Executive Platinum | 200,000 |
Source: American’s published status requirements.
What counts
Eligible American and partner flights earn Loyalty Points. American also awards them through qualifying card purchases and activities such as AAdvantage eShopping, Dining, and Hotels. Check whether an offer earns eligible base miles or only bonus miles. American Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after December 17, 2025 do not earn miles or Loyalty Points. American earning FAQ
On eligible U.S. AAdvantage cards, ordinary base purchase earning generally produces one Loyalty Point per dollar. Category multipliers and welcome bonus miles are not automatically Loyalty Points. Some cards have separately defined Loyalty Point bonuses; those count under their own terms. American credit card rules
Illustrative example: 18,000 Loyalty Points from flights, 12,000 from eligible card purchases, and 10,000 from qualifying partner activity would reach the current 40,000-point Gold threshold. That example is a planning exercise, not a promised return from a particular shopping offer.
What you get and the Mostly Points take
Status brings priority services, checked-bag benefits, and upgrade eligibility, with benefits improving by tier. Companion coverage and eligibility depend on the itinerary and reservation. American status benefits
American is worth considering when your normal spending can supplement flights you already want. The trap is paying more for a hotel or buying something unnecessary because a Loyalty Point offer looks attractive. Compare the extra cost with the benefits you expect to use.
Delta: one qualification currency, with card assistance
Delta told The Points Guy on October 22 that its thresholds will remain unchanged for activity during 2027. That activity earns the 2028 Medallion year, with benefits available once earned and continuing through January 31, 2029. Delta’s public qualification page still labels its displayed chart “2027 Status,” referring to 2026 activity; the newer 2027-earning confirmation is attributed here to that spokesperson report. Delta’s 2027 confirmation reported by TPG
| Tier | MQDs required during 2027 |
|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | 5,000 |
| Gold Medallion | 10,000 |
| Platinum Medallion | 15,000 |
| Diamond Medallion | 28,000 |
What counts
Eligible Delta-marketed airfare generally earns one MQD per dollar of base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding government taxes and fees. Partner-ticket calculations vary. Eligible Delta Vacations bookings can contribute, with exclusions and allocation rules. Delta Main Basic fares do not qualify. Delta qualification rules
Eligible Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Amex cards, including their business versions, provide a 2,500-MQD annual Headstart per eligible card type. Platinum cards earn one MQD per $20 in eligible purchases; Reserve cards earn one per $10. These are Delta-branded cards. The separate American Express Platinum Card does not provide this benefit. Delta MQD Headstart and Boost
Illustrative example: 3,000 MQDs from eligible travel plus one 2,500-MQD Headstart totals 5,500 MQDs, enough for Silver under the announced thresholds. Annual fees and the rewards you give up by moving spending still belong in the calculation.
What you get and the Mostly Points take
Medallion benefits include eligible complimentary upgrades, baggage benefits, and priority services. Platinum and Diamond members also receive Choice Benefits selections. Upgrade availability, cabin, route, and fare restrictions matter. Delta Medallion benefits · Choice Benefits
Delta makes the qualification math relatively straightforward. Whether it makes sense financially is a separate question. A Headstart is useful when Delta already fits your travel; opening an expensive card solely to manufacture a status level needs a much stronger payoff.
United: 2027 qualification moves to PQP-only targets
Beginning January 1, 2027, United removes the lower-PQP route that required a specified number of Premier Qualifying Flights. You will qualify against a PQP target, but must still take at least four flights operated by United or United Express. Partner flights do not replace that minimum. United announcement covered by Business Travel News
| Tier | PQP required during 2027 |
|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 6,000 |
| Premier Gold | 12,000 |
| Premier Platinum | 18,000 |
| Premier 1K | 32,000 |
For someone who used the flight-plus-PQP route, this can mean a higher spending target. Premier 1K also rises from the old PQP-only requirement of 28,000 to 32,000. These changes apply to earning during 2027, toward the following status year. United 2027 changes reported by TPG
What counts
Eligible United airfare earns PQP on base fare and carrier surcharges. Certain paid seating, eligible partner tickets, and qualifying MileagePlus award travel can also contribute, under different calculations. Eligible United card purchases earn PQP at card-specific rates and caps. PQP earning explained by Frequent Miler
The announced 2027 starter deposit is tied to both qualifying status and an eligible United card held by December 31, 2026: 300 PQP for Silver, 600 for Gold, 900 for Platinum, and 1,600 for 1K. The United Club card PQP earning cap rises to 32,000; card purchases alone still do not satisfy the four-flight requirement. United card and starter-PQP changes
Illustrative example: 5,000 eligible flight PQP plus 1,000 card-earned PQP reaches Silver’s 6,000 target, provided the traveler also completes the four required United/United Express flights.
What you get and the Mostly Points take
Premier benefits include baggage allowances, priority services, and eligible upgrade access. Economy Plus access is particularly practical: Silver generally receives it at check-in, while Gold and above receive it at booking on eligible fares, subject to availability. Platinum expands eligible companion coverage. United Premier benefits guide
For 2027, build a PQP budget before building a flight-count goal. Extra connections no longer unlock the old lower-PQP route. Reliable access to a seat you prefer may be worth more than an upgrade you only occasionally clear.
Alaska and Hawaiian: choose how Atmos Rewards counts your flights
Atmos Rewards is the combined loyalty program for Alaska and Hawaiian. Its current published status thresholds are shown below. The announced January 2027 change is how flight earning works; these remain the latest published tier targets as of October 28, 2026.
| Tier | Status points | oneworld level |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 20,000 | Ruby |
| Gold | 40,000 | Sapphire |
| Platinum | 80,000 | Emerald |
| Titanium | 135,000 | Emerald |
Source: Alaska’s published Atmos thresholds.
What counts in 2027
For eligible flights departing from January 1, 2027, members can choose a flight-earning method:
| Method | Basic earning rate |
|---|---|
| Distance traveled | 1 point and status point per mile |
| Eligible price paid | 5 points and status points per dollar |
| Segments flown | 500 points and status points per segment |
Existing members who make no choice retain distance earning; new members joining from January 1 default to price-based earning. Members can change their selection once per calendar year for future travel. Partner eligibility and booking channels matter, so do not apply the basic rate to every ticket automatically. Alaska’s announcement · 2027 partner rules · Earning-rate comparison reported by TPG
Illustrative example: an eligible nonstop covering 2,000 miles with $250 in qualifying airfare would produce 2,000 status points by distance, 1,250 by price, or 500 by segment before any other applicable adjustments. Run that comparison across your expected year, not just your next ticket.
Card and eligible non-airline earning operate separately. The Summit card earns one status point per $2 in eligible purchases, plus 10,000 status points annually starting with the first account anniversary. The anniversary award is not an immediate opening bonus. Official Summit card terms overview
What you get and the Mostly Points take
Status offers baggage benefits, preferred seating, eligible upgrades, and corresponding oneworld recognition. Higher tiers improve upgrade priority and add benefits. Atmos status benefits
Alaska also plans an Atmos debit card and transfers from eligible Bank of America card programs in 2027. Those announcements are not a reason to assume transferred reward points qualify as status points; wait for the specific terms. Announced banking additions
Atmos deserves a close look when Alaska or Hawaiian fits your routes. Its most useful 2027 feature is the ability to match earning to how you actually fly. Long, inexpensive trips and short, expensive trips can favor different choices.
Southwest: a new status system, including Companion Pass
Southwest’s January 1, 2027 changes go well beyond renaming A-List. Status and Companion Pass move onto one qualification system, with new milestones, a new top tier, and different credit card earning rules.
The new tiers and requirements
Qualify through either Tier Qualifying Points or qualifying one-way flights:
| 2027 tier | TQPs or qualifying flights | Relationship to the old program |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights | Replaces A-List |
| Gold | 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights | Replaces A-List Preferred |
| Platinum | 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights | New tier; unlimited Companion Pass trips |
Silver includes one checked bag, Group 1 boarding, Standard/Preferred seats at booking, and eligible Extra Legroom access within 48 hours of departure. Gold adds Extra Legroom selection at booking, two checked bags, and earlier boarding. Platinum adds unlimited Companion Pass trips, three checked bags, and boarding ahead of Gold. Seat benefits remain subject to availability. Southwest’s 2027 tier comparison
How you earn TQPs
Qualifying flight earning depends on fare: Basic earns 2 per eligible dollar, Choice 6, Choice Preferred 8, and Choice Extra 10. Other qualifying sources include Southwest credit cards, qualifying debit-card purchases, Getaways bookings, and qualifying Groups travel. Reward flights and Companion Pass travel are excluded from qualifying flights. Southwest 2027 overview and earning terms
Starting January 1, every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, including Plus, earns one TQP per eligible dollar with no earning cap. For 2027 only, eligible cardholders who reach 130,000 TQPs receive a one-time 10,000-TQP boost toward Platinum. Card-earned TQPs post after statement closing, so year-end timing matters. Southwest’s 2027 card rules
Illustrative example: $20,000 in eligible card purchases plus 15,000 qualifying flight TQPs would reach Silver. That does not mean $20,000 in spending is worth redirecting; compare the rewards you would earn on your other cards.
Milestones and Companion Pass
At 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying flights, choose 2,000 redeemable points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. At 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights, earn three Companion Pass trips. Each can cover a one-way or round-trip itinerary; using one for a one-way consumes the whole trip benefit. Platinum increases the allowance to unlimited trips. Companion taxes and fees still apply. Milestones and program changes · Companion Pass rules
The old Companion Pass qualifying-points currency ends after December 31, 2026. Under the new system, welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, category bonus points, and ordinary partner reward points do not qualify merely because they earn redeemable Rapid Rewards points. This changes the familiar welcome-bonus route to Companion Pass.
There is a published transition exception: eligible card applicants who apply on or before December 2, 2026, are approved, and satisfy the welcome-offer requirements may have those bonus points counted toward 2026 Companion Pass qualification, even when the spending requirement is met in early 2027. The resulting pass is valid through December 31, 2027. The specific offer terms govern eligibility. Southwest transition FAQ
What happens to status you already earned?
Members who qualified for A-List for 2027 move to Silver; A-List Preferred becomes Gold. Existing Companion Pass holders retain their benefits until their stated expiration.
Silver’s flight-point bonus rises from 25% to 40%. Gold’s standard bonus is 60%, but members who earned A-List Preferred for 2027 through 2026 activity retain 100% through December 31, 2027. Qualifying A-List carryover members also keep a $35 second-bag rate for flights through that date. Platinum’s bonus is 120%. These are redeemable flight-point bonuses, not an automatic multiplication of status credit. Existing-member transition rules
What else is coming during 2027?
| Timing | Announced change |
|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | Earn and redeem through international loyalty partnerships, initially Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways |
| Fall 2027 target | Completion of the fleetwide Starlink rollout |
| During 2027 | New premium Southwest credit card from Chase, including Icon lounge access |
| Beginning late 2027 | Icon lounges planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville |
| Late 2027 | Use points for seat selection, including Preferred and Extra Legroom seats |
These are announced rollout plans, not a promise that every feature will be available January 1. Exact card pricing, full access terms, and individual lounge opening dates still need confirmation. Rental-car redemptions are scheduled to begin in November 2026, so they belong in the context rather than the list of new January features. Southwest rollout announcement · Icon lounge plans · Starlink target
The Mostly Points take
Southwest needs a fresh calculation for 2027. A clearer card-spending path to tiers does not erase the loss of welcome-bonus qualification for most new Companion Pass plans. Compare what it takes to earn the benefit with how often your companion will actually travel. Three well-used round trips may be enough for one household; another may value unlimited use much more.
JetBlue: tiles stay, but your perk choices change
JetBlue’s announced 2027 structure retains four Mosaic tiers. Tiles measure progress; redeemable TrueBlue points pay for awards.
| Tier | Tiles required |
|---|---|
| Mosaic 1 | 50 |
| Mosaic 2 | 100 |
| Mosaic 3 | 150 |
| Mosaic 4 | 250 |
What counts
Earn one tile per $100 of qualifying travel spending or per $1,000 of eligible JetBlue credit card purchases. Travel can include eligible flights, JetBlue Vacations, TrueBlue Travel, and specified extras. Government taxes and fees do not earn tiles. Earned travel tiles and card tiles combine toward your total. JetBlue tile rules
Illustrative example: $3,000 in qualifying travel earns 30 tiles; $20,000 in qualifying card purchases earns another 20. Together they reach Mosaic 1’s 50 tiles before any applicable bonus-tile selections.
What changes in 2027
Most announced perk changes start February 1. At the 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-tile milestones, members can repeatedly select a new two-tile bonus, potentially reducing the number of tiles needed from spending to 42. New selections generally must be made within 60 days. Some pre-Mosaic travel perks become single-use, so a familiar perk name may deliver less ongoing value. TrueBlue’s 2027 update
Mosaic tiers receive revised Perks You Pick menus, including choices between current-year tiles and next-year headstarts. Move to Mint certificates become Premium Upgrade Certificates; Mosaic 2 can select one from February 1. Complimentary, space-available BlueFirst upgrades begin with the arrival of equipped aircraft and do not provide complimentary Mint upgrades. Main Base and EvenMore Base fares are excluded from that upgrade benefit. Mosaic’s 2027 update
What you get and the Mostly Points take
EvenMore seating access is one practical reason to consider Mosaic: higher tiers can select it earlier on eligible fares, subject to availability. JetBlue EvenMore benefits
JetBlue is a case where choosing a benefit can affect how quickly you earn the next one. Put selection deadlines on your calendar. A current-year tile bonus can help close a real gap, while a headstart is only useful if you expect to pursue status again next year.
How to choose a program for your own 2027 travel
Start with your likely trips. List destinations, nonstop options, approximate fares, and who will travel with you. An airline with a slightly weaker benefit package can still be the better choice if it reliably gets you where you need to go.
Next, pick the tier that solves a real problem. Earlier seat selection, bags for family trips, and useful same-day flexibility are easier to value than a hoped-for premium-cabin upgrade. Treat upgrade eligibility as a possibility, not a reservation.
Then estimate what you will earn naturally. Add eligible flights, existing card activity you would reasonably keep on that card, and partner activity you already need. Calculate the remaining gap before changing your spending.
Finally, price the gap. If reaching the next tier means $1,500 in extra travel or giving up $700 in better card rewards, the benefits need to justify that cost. Paying interest to earn airline status makes the equation worse quickly.
Our points-versus-cash guide can help compare a booking’s alternatives. The Mostly Points app can help you organize your cards and rewards; the airline’s own account remains the place to confirm your qualifying status balance.
Common questions
Can I earn status without flying?
Some programs allow a substantial amount, or potentially all, of the qualifying currency to come from eligible card and partner activity. United still requires four United/United Express flights under its announced 2027 rules. Check the program’s actual minimums before building a card-only plan. Status is also less valuable if you rarely fly the airline whose benefits you earned.
Will transferring credit card points give me status?
Do not count a transfer unless the program expressly awards status credit for it. Redeemable miles, qualifying points, and promotional bonuses follow separate rules. A large award balance can fund a great trip without providing elite status.
Should I use a status match?
A match or challenge can help if you already hold eligible status elsewhere. Offers change, can require registration, and often come with a limited qualification window. Review the live offer before booking travel; do not build a 2027 plan around a 2026 promotion’s deadlines.
Which airline status is best?
The one whose benefits you will use on trips you would take anyway. For 2027, choose the airline first, identify the useful tier second, and work out how to qualify third. The goal is an easier travel year, not an expensive badge.
Rules and announcements checked October 28, 2026. Announced features may roll out during the year; unconfirmed future-cycle requirements are labeled. Examples are illustrative. Read our disclosure.