Favorite hotel and airline elite benefits

Loyalty programs naturally want to reward their most loyal and valuable travelers, and many do so by offering elite status to travelers who spend the most money or time with them.

If you hold mid- to top-tier elite status with a loyalty program — and travel with the program frequently — you’ll likely get thousands of dollars’ worth of value from your status each year. So, once you have elite status, it’s often compelling to continue spending, staying and flying with certain programs to reap the rewards of your status while requalifying for another year.

From World of Hyatt Discoverist to American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, TPG staffers hold many status levels. This article will share some of my favorite elite status perks and discuss some benefits other TPG staffers told me they love.

Since 2017, I’ve traveled full time as a digital nomad. When my husband and I gave up our apartment and sold or donated most of our belongings in 2017, we only had a few elite statuses. But, while living on the road, we’ve picked up multiple airline and hotel elite statuses.

Currently, I hold American AAdvantage Platinum Pro (Oneworld Emerald), Asiana Club Diamond (Star Alliance Gold) and United Premier Silver. My husband also earned a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass in January 2023, which we’ve earned value from for almost two years.

Meanwhile, my husband and I split our stays on the hotel side, so we each hold high-tier hotel elite status in several programs. But we typically travel together and benefit from our combined hotel elite statuses. Between the two of us, we currently hold Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Honors Diamond, World of Hyatt Globalist, IHG One Rewards Diamond Ambassador, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Caesars Rewards Diamond and Choice Privileges Gold.

Thanks to our elite statuses, we get significant value from free checked bags, elevated earning rates, waived resort fees, complimentary hotel breakfast, and priority check-in and boarding. But here’s a quick look at my three favorite elite status perks.

Upgrades

Like many other travelers with elite status, I get a lot of value from upgrades. Upgrades on domestic flights are one of the primary reasons I strive to earn at least Platinum Pro status each year with American AAdvantage.

Holding Star Alliance Gold and Oneworld Emerald status has let me snag preferred seats with extra legroom when flying in economy on some Oneworld and Star Alliance carriers. The extra few inches of legroom in these seats can make a massive difference if I’m looking to work on my laptop in flight. If the flight isn’t sold out, some carriers even preemptively block the seat next to Oneworld Emerald elite members in the economy cabin.

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We’ve also received some notable upgrades at Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG hotels from holding high-level elite status with these programs. Suite upgrades are relatively rare, but we frequently get upgrades to rooms with impressive views, extra windows or more space. And we usually get our preference for a nonconnecting room on a high floor. These small but frequent upgrades provide significant value since we work from our room on most trips.

Related: Stuck in coach with no elite status? That upgrade might be cheaper than you think

Lounge access

One of my favorite elite status perks is lounge access. Thanks to an IHG annual lounge membership as well as Hilton Diamond, World of Hyatt Globalist and Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status, my husband and I can access the club-level lounge when staying at most IHG, Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott properties that have one.

Although lounges within the U.S. often aren’t all that impressive, we’ve enjoyed some lounges abroad that offer full breakfasts, afternoon snacks and evening drinks.

But perhaps even more valuable than hotel lounge access is airport lounge access. Oneworld Emerald status unlocks some amazing lounges when flying internationally. I love using my Oneworld Emerald status to visit some of the best airport lounges, including The Pier First Class in Hong Kong, Japan Airlines’ First Class Lounge in Tokyo and Malaysia Airlines’ First Class Lounge in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From a sushi station in Tokyo to sit-down dining in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, I always enjoy the culinary offerings at these lounges.

Related: Ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

Guaranteed 4 pm late checkout

The most valuable hotel elite status perk for my husband and me is guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout. Many hotel elite statuses offer late checkout as a benefit, but availability and checkout time are typically at the hotel’s discretion. So you often won’t know until your checkout date whether the hotel will approve your request for late checkout.

Luckily, World of Hyatt Globalist status and Marriott Platinum Elite status or higher provide guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout with relatively few exclusions. So, when we stay with Hyatt or Marriott, we know we can rely on having our room until 4 p.m.

As such, we’re often willing to pay more to stay at a Hyatt or Marriott. After all, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout usually allows us to work a full day before checking out. And 4 p.m. checkout is extremely valuable before catching evening flights to our next destination.

Related: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to honor your elite benefits

Some favorite airline elite status perks are practical. TPG Managing Editor Erica Silverstein loves United Airlines Silver Premier status because it gives her the ability to score extra-legroom Economy Plus seats at check-in for herself and a companion. “I’m Silver Premier on United, so sometimes I can luck into Economy Plus seats for free at check-in. I’m desperately trying to reach Gold for free Economy Plus seats at booking. I’m a simple (yet tall) girl with simple needs,” she said.

TPG Engineering Manager Zoe Jablow also mentioned enjoying Economy Plus seats at check-in as a perk of United Silver Premier status. But she also noted: “Jumping toward the top of the list of standby lines and free same-day confirmed changes have all saved me over the last couple of years.”

TPG Managing Editor Clint Henderson has top-tier elite status with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. He noted upgrade certificates as his favorite perk. “I’ve been able to use systemwide upgrade certificates with American AAdvantage as an Executive Platinum and Delta upgrade certificates as a Diamond Medallion to upgrade some long-haul international flights,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Meanwhile, TPG Director of Content Operations Andrea Rotondo is loyal to American and enjoys one specific Loyalty Point Rewards benefit. “When you hit 60,000 Loyalty Points earned in a status year, you get a 20% Loyalty Point bonus for spending with select partners (things like SimplyMiles, the AAdvantage eShopping portal, AAdvantage Dining and more),” she said. “Once you hit 100,000 Loyalty Points, the bump is 30%.” This perk helps boost her rolling 12-month balance of Loyalty Points, which AAdvantage uses to determine upgrade priority.

TPG Senior Writer Ben Smithson‘s favorite airline benefit is from his mid-tier British Airways Executive Club Silver status. This status gives him Oneworld Sapphire status via a non-U.S. airline. This means he gets Flagship Lounge access even when flying American within the U.S. He’s visited a few Flagship Lounges, and he noted: “I love the Champagne desk on entry, the high-quality food, friendly staff and peaceful vibe.”

Related: So, what exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

Multiple TPG staffers mentioned upgrades as their favorite hotel elite status perk. Clint and Andrea both mentioned Hyatt suite upgrade awards as their favorite benefit. Clint said he has recently used suite upgrade awards for hotels in Monterey, California, and London.

Andrea told me that suite upgrade awards are her all-time favorite perk. “I value premium rooms with separate living and sleeping areas, so this is what keeps me loyal to Hyatt above other brands,” she said. “With Hyatt, I know when I make a reservation that my suite upgrade award has been applied and that suite is guaranteed.”

TPG Senior Writer Tarah Chieffi also said upgrades are her favorite hotel perk, but she specifically mentioned the room upgrades she gets as a Marriott Gold Elite member. “More often than not, I am able to upgrade to a better room,” she said, even though upgrades are subject to availability. “At Gaylord Opryland, I was upgraded from a standard room to a room with a balcony overlooking the gorgeous glass atrium, and at the Walt Disney World Swan, I was upgraded to a room with a balcony that overlooked the resort.”

TPG Senior Editor Christine Gallipeau went a different direction with her favorite elite perk. “As an IHG One Rewards member with Diamond Elite and Ambassador status, I’ve loved having the ability to choose free daily breakfast for two as my Diamond Elite welcome amenity, especially since several InterContinental and Kimpton properties have let me apply the benefit to room service orders or pick up my food from the restaurant,” she said. “This perk has helped me save money and made stays with my pup easier, as I’m able to take advantage of the amenity without leaving her behind.”

Zoe echoed one of my favorite elite benefits, saying her favorite hotel perk is the 4 p.m. late checkout she can get as a Marriott Platinum Elite or higher at most properties. She found this perk especially valuable while traveling full time for two years as a digital nomad. “Especially on the West Coast of the country, it meant being able to work an entire (Eastern time) workday uninterrupted,” she said.

TPG Associate Points and Miles writer Rachel Craft also mentioned late checkout as her favorite elite status perk. She has World of Hyatt Discoverist status as a perk of the World of Hyatt Credit Card and loves the benefit of a 2 p.m. late checkout. “It’s always nice getting some extra rest on my last day of vacation and not worrying about staying up late the night before,” she said. “It’s especially useful when I stay at Hyatt properties for conferences, as then I can enjoy the last-day morning activities without having to wake up early to pack and check out.”

Related: My top picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card

Elite status provides many valuable perks, but earning elite status often requires significant spending and travel. Luckily, it is possible to use cards to earn elite status in some programs. For example, those with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can enroll to get Marriott Gold Elite and Hilton Gold status as a card perk. Enrollment is required.

Meanwhile, other cobranded credit cards can allow you to jump-start elite status. For example, you can earn up to 40 elite night credits per year with a combination of Marriott Bonvoy cards. I like to spend $15,000 on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each calendar year to earn six elite night credits and a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Finally, you may also be able to status match to earn elite status in a new program. Whether you earn elite status as a card benefit, through a status match or via traveling with the program, consider how to best use the program’s elite status perks on your travels. After all, elite status perks are only valuable when you travel with the program.