Qualifying spend is the ticket revenue a programme requires alongside flights or miles before granting a status tier.
Qualifying spend is the ticket revenue a programme requires alongside flights or miles before granting a status tier.
Also called: Elite qualifying dollars, Revenue requirement.
How it works#
The threshold shifts qualification from flying often to paying a lot: cheap long-haul earns miles but little revenue. It is normally calculated on the base fare plus surcharges, not on taxes and airport charges. Many programmes waive it for high card spending, which effectively turns status into a condition attached to a card product.
Not to be confused with#
Qualifying spend is not the same as a card’s minimum spend: one qualifies for airline status, the other unlocks a welcome bonus.
In German#
The German term is Statusumsatz. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Elite qualification: Elite qualification is the proof that enough flights, qualifying miles or spending have accumulated within a defined period to reach a status tier.
- Elite qualifying miles: Elite qualifying miles are miles that count only towards reaching a frequent flyer tier and cannot be redeemed for awards.
- Base fare: The base fare is the pure transport price of a ticket, before taxes, airport charges and airline surcharges are added.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onStatus and lounges.