Travel is more luxurious with these secret elite traveler status levels

When it comes to traveling, there’s no shortage of tips on how to globetrot on a dime. Jetsetters who don’t mind spending some coin while traveling the world, however, can earn themselves a spot in an airline’s top-tier gold, silver, platinum or diamond statuses. But for the upper echelon of the upper echelon, something more had to be done to reward the traveling elite who like to ball out during a trip.

Elite statuses are the holy grail of frequent flyer programs. They give you access to an entire new world of travel benefits, including priority check-in, first-class upgrades, complimentary drinks and meals, and much more. Most people don’t know these elite statuses exist, unless you’ve earned one of the titles yourself. We’ve compiled this list to shed light on a number of lesser-known, but prestigious categorizations.

United Airlines Global Services

United Airlines’ secret premier tier, Global Services, has been a mystery for years. However, we now know how you can get in on the action: just become a four-million miler and think of it as the ultimate upgrade. Once you hit that milestone, you’ll receive lifetime access to Global Service benefits, which are said to include Mercedes-Benz airport transfers, a dedicated phone line and email address for travel assistance, access to special fare classes when using upgrade certificates (the certificates are a benefit of United Premier 1K status, the highest published tier of United’s MileagePlus program), United Club access, and much more. Even though it’s not easy to rack up four million miles on United, those who do are rewarded with Global Services status, for which United’s invitation criteria are kept under wraps.

Delta 360°

Delta is upfront about its elite status, providing information on how much members fly and how much they spend on their Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards. However, these limits are not made public, and some have theorized that they may change depending on which airport you fly into. In order to be invited, guests must be Diamond Medallion members, Delta’s highest public status tier. Supposed extras include airport transfers in a Porsche, a personal helpline for booking flights, and gifts like Ray-Ban sunglasses and Delta swag.

American Airlines ConciergeKey

American Airlines doesn’t publicly share details of its ConciergeKey program, but word on the street is that this tier of the AAdvantage loyalty program is reserved for managers of corporate travel programs and employees recommended by those managers. Also included are frequent flyers who spend tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of dollars annually on American Airlines. According to Travel + Leisure, benefits include everything that Executive Platinum members of American Airlines get: day-of travel assistance via a dedicated phone line and email, private airport transfers, Admirals Club lounge membership, access to Flagship Lounges, and World of Hyatt Globalist status, among other perks.

Hyatt Courtesy Card

There is a hidden elite status system at some hotel chains that is even more exclusive than the airline programs. It has been said that certain World of Hyatt members and owners of Hyatt hotels are eligible for a program called Courtesy Card. One Mile at a Time reports that members include high-spending members and managers of corporate travel accounts who were nominated by Hyatt general managers. Due to the exclusivity of Courtesy Card, little is known about the benefits that come with the status, but they may include a free upgrade to the hotel’s best suite.

Marriott Cobalt

According to The Points Guy, Marriott Cobalt is a private tier of the hotel chain’s Bonvoy program that is only open to candidates recommended by Marriott staff and accepted by Marriott International’s president and CEO. No matter where you stay, you’ll receive exceptional personalized service. Benefits vary depending on the hotel, such as upgrades at some lower-tier properties and club access at higher-tier properties. All of the advantages of Marriott’s publicized top tier, Ambassador Elite, are also available to Cobalt elites.

International iterations

There are a few international airlines that also provide invitation-only programs for their most frequent travelers if you’re thinking about switching your loyalty to one of them according to the CN Traveler.

Emirates iO

A senior sales manager at Emirates personally delivers an enrollment card to members of its top-secret Emirates iO tier, who reportedly spend more than $1 million annually with the airline. The perks include upscale gifts like a monogrammed Montblanc wallet, limo service to and from the airport, the ability to skip cabins in upgrades (like going from economy to first), and the ability to grant a friend or relative Gold-level elite status in Emirates’ Skywards mileage program.

British Airways Executive Club Premier

The benefits of British Airways Executive Club Premier status are reportedly access to all of the airline’s clubs, even if one is not a frequent flyer of BA, as well as access to its Concorde Room at London Heathrow. Members can purchase seats on flights that are sold out, gift Gold elite status to another person, and receive an annual voucher for two-person upgrades. According to reports, the airline even reserved entire flights for Executive Club Premier members who had difficult connections and moved them from aircraft to aircraft in a fleet of Jaguars. The membership is estimated to be around 450 people, and it is thought that they must have annual travel budgets exceeding £2 million ($2.47 million).

Singapore Airlines PPS Club Solitaire

Last but not least, if you fly Singapore Airlines frequently, you can become a member of the prestigious PPS Club Solitaire by spending a total of $50,000 SGD ($38,000) annually. Doing so will grant you access to a VIP check-in area at Singapore Changi Airport, a first-class lounge area in Singapore’s SilverKris airport lounges, and priority when redeeming award miles. Upgradation vouchers are awarded to members who spend $60,000 SGD ($45,500) in a year and $75,000 SGD ($56,800) in a year.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.

This story was originally published March 29, 2023 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Travel is more luxurious with these secret elite traveler status levels."