7 loyalty programs for airlines and hotels that allow you to gift elite status

Elite status travelers enjoy various benefits, such as free breakfast at hotels and upgrades on flights. These advantages often apply to traveling companions as well. But what can you do when your friends or family fly without you?

Certain programs enable you to bestow elite status upon someone else for a trip or stay, including Hyatt's Guest of Honor program, Air Canada's Status Pass, and American Airlines' Enhance with Miles options. Some even permit gifting complete elite status to another traveler.

Here’s a glance at programs that let you gift elite status for a day, a stay, or an extended duration.

Air Canada

Air Canada Aeroplan provides its 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members with the choice to select a Status Pass through Select Benefit Bundles. Super Elite members automatically receive two passes each year as a Core Benefit.

In simple terms, the Status Pass allows elite members to extend their privileges to another traveler, even if they're not flying together. Those who receive the passes will enjoy the following benefits:

• Priority check-in
• Three checked bags with priority handling
• Priority security screening
• Access to Maple Leaf lounges
• Priority airport standby
• Priority boarding

Each Status Pass covers a complete Air Canada reservation, including award flights, for up to nine travelers booked on the same itinerary. However, it’s important to remember that Status Pass benefits apply only to Air Canada flights.

Beyond the Status Pass, Air Canada enables certain elite members to directly gift status to others. Aeroplan 75K elite members can opt to gift Aeroplan 35K status as a Select Benefit, while Super Elite members can choose to gift Aeroplan 50K status as well.

Alaska Airlines

After achieving Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K status within a calendar year, you can share your MVP status with a friend or family member. Simply fill out this form on Alaska's website to specify the recipient.

Upon reaching MVP Gold 100K status in a calendar year, you can select one 100K Choice Benefit for the subsequent year. One of the options is to upgrade the individual you nominated for MVP status during your MVP Gold 75K qualification to MVP Gold status.

American Airlines

American Airlines AAdvantage allows you to gift status to someone else at specific Loyalty Point thresholds through Loyalty Point Rewards:

• 175,000 Loyalty Points: At this milestone, you can choose one option, gifting two AAdvantage Gold status memberships.
• 250,000 Loyalty Points: Here, you receive two options and can gift two AAdvantage Gold statuses for each choice.
• 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points: At each of these milestones, you have two choices and can gift one AAdvantage Platinum status per choice.
• 1 million Loyalty Points: You get one option here, allowing you to gift one AAdvantage Platinum Pro status.
• 3 million and 5 million Loyalty Points: At each of these milestones, you receive one option and can gift one AAdvantage Executive Platinum status per milestone.

Delta Air Lines

When you reach Platinum Medallion or Diamond Medallion status in the Delta SkyMiles program, you can choose Delta Choice Benefits as a reward for your achievement. While many opt for Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates, there are other options available, including the ability to gift status. Platinum Medallion members can gift Silver Medallion status, while Diamond Medallion members can gift Gold Medallion status.

Hilton

By staying with Hilton Honors for 60 or more eligible nights within a calendar year, you can gift Gold status to another member. If you stay for 100 or more nights in the same year, you can elevate that gift to Diamond status. After fulfilling the required number of nights, you will receive an email with a code to share status with another member.

If you haven't stayed the necessary nights, your friends and family can still enjoy Hilton Honors status. Hilton Honors status is a benefit of the following cards:

• Hilton Gold status: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required)
• Hilton Diamond status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The details for the Hilton Aspire Amex card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Hyatt

Although World of Hyatt does not allow direct gifting of status, it offers a distinctive alternative through its Guest of Honor program. Starting in 2024, the Guest of Honor benefit will be linked to Hyatt Milestone Rewards, enabling loyal members to earn their first Guest of Honor award each calendar year after completing 40 nights or accumulating 65,000 base points.

The Guest of Honor recipient — who can vary each time — will enjoy all the in-hotel privileges typically granted to Globalist members during their Guest of Honor stay.

Marriott

After reaching 50 and 75 elite night milestones in a calendar year with Marriott Bonvoy, you become eligible for annual Choice Benefits. While Suite Night Awards (set to be replaced by Nightly Upgrade Awards in 2024) are typically the most sought-after choice at these levels, you also have the option to gift status to another member.

Upon achieving 50 elite nights, you can opt to gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status as your Choice Benefit. Once you reach the 75-night mark, you can gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status instead. However, since you can easily earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status through credit cards, exploring other Choice Benefit options is generally more advantageous.

Bottom line

With elite status, it's only natural to want to share the benefits with others. Extending the perks of elite status can be a fantastic gift for friends and family who travel often. However, it's crucial to weigh your options carefully before opting for the gift of status instead of other perks to ensure you don't miss out on choices that may provide even greater value.