Frequent Flier Tricks

Don’t fly enough to earn elite status on an airline? There are plenty of other ways to buy those perks and preferred treatment, either à la carte or through the right credit card. Here is how you can fly like an elite passenger, even for one trip a year, on several airlines. (Carriers without an elite program were not included.)

American Airlines
 

UPGRADES Passengers who buy a full-fare economy ticket can request an upgrade 24 hours before departure for $30 per 500 miles at AA.com if seats are available.

A BETTER COACH SEAT “Preferred seats” in the first few rows of coach can be bought at booking from $4 extra, depending on the length of the flight and the time of day. American is also beginning to sell Main Cabin Extra seats with 4 to 6 inches of extra legroom for $8 to $108, starting with its Boeing 777-300s.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes are available for $50; $90, plus tax, for the Arrivals lounge at Heathrow Airport in London; 30-day memberships are $99; annual memberships are $500 or 80,000 miles for non-elites.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Preboarding is available for $9 each way; American offers expedited security lines along with other V.I.P. services like lounge access for $125 a person through its Five Star Service program.

CREDIT CARD The Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage ($95 annual fee) offers priority boarding, double miles, and a first-checked-bag free for you and up to four traveling companions. In addition, the CitiExecutive/AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard ($450 annual fee) offers 10,000 elite qualifying miles when you spend $40,000, free access for you and two guests to Admirals Clubs, dedicated check-in and airport screening lanes, where available.

Delta Air Lines

UPGRADES First-class upgrades can be bought at Delta.com when booking online or when checking in, if seats are available. Prices start at $50 each way for customers who purchase a nearly full-fare coach ticket for a short flight.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Exit-row seats and bulkhead, aisle and window seats toward the front of the plane can be bought 24 hours before departure from $9 to $29 for domestic flights and $39 to $59 for international.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes cost $50; 30-day memberships are $90; annual memberships are $450 or 70,000 miles.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Preboarding is available for $9 each way for several markets, including Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix; and San Diego. Delta does not offer priority security lines for non-elite customers.

CREDIT CARD The Gold Delta SkyMiles card from American Express ($95 annual fee) comes with priority boarding and double the miles when you fly, and lets you and up to nine people in your reservation check a bag free. In addition, the Delta Reserve card from American Express ($450 annual fee) offers concierge consultants, elite qualifying miles and free access for you and two guests to Delta Sky Clubs.

Southwest Airlines

UPGRADES Southwest offers only coach.

A BETTER COACH SEAT With its open-seating policy, those who board first get the best seats.

LOUNGE ACCESS It doesn’t have lounges.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Passengers who buy a premium Business Select ticket are guaranteed to board first, followed by frequent fliers and passengers who bought a $10 one-way “early bird check-in” pass. Business Select ticket holders also have access to express security lines where available.

CREDIT CARD For every $10,000 charged to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card from Chase, you earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-list status, which comes with priority check-in and boarding.

United Airlines

UPGRADES First- and business-class upgrades can be purchased from booking to check-in time, if seats are available. Prices are usually based on the difference between the fare the customer paid for coach and the lowest available first- or business-class fare at the time. For example, the cost to upgrade to first on a one-way coach ticket from New York to Chicago was $135 in a recent search.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Economy Plus rows, with 4 to 6 inches of extra legroom, cost $9 to $169 one way, depending on the flight.

LOUNGE ACCESS Day passes cost $50; annual memberships are $475.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY United began selling a variety of perks a couple of years ago, including expedited security and preboarding (from $9), but has temporarily suspended the “premier travel” program. It plans to reintroduce most of the à la carte services later this year

CREDIT CARD The United MileagePlus Explorer card from Chase ($95 annual fee) offers a free checked bag, priority boarding and two passes a year to United Clubs. The United MileagePlus Club card ($395 annual fee) offers designated airport check-in lines; preboarding and express security lanes; United Club access each time you fly; and your first and second bags are free.

US Airways

UPGRADES Domestic upgrades can be bought 24 hours before departure for $50 to $500, if seats are available. International business-class upgrades are $600 to $750, depending on the length of flight and availability.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Choice seats, mostly window and aisle seats toward the front of coach, which may include exit rows, cost $5 and up, depending on the flight length, destination and time of day.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes are $50 at the club or $29 at usairways.com; 90-day memberships are $120; annual memberships are $450.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY PreferredAccess offers priority check-in, security lanes and boarding, where available, including most gates in 21 cities, for $10 a person.

CREDIT CARD The US Airways Premier World MasterCard ($89 annual fee) comes with first-class check-in privileges, priority boarding, double miles when you fly and discounts on award travel.

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