SkyTeam has, like Star Alliance, two levels of alliance status: Elite and Elite Plus. While Elite is the lower level of the two, it offers some perks that the other two major alliances do not offer to their lowest-tier frequent flyer status holders. The most notable of those is extra baggage allowance.
Continue reading this article to learn more about the SkyTeam Elite status. Among other things, I’ll talk about the benefits it offers, how you can get it, and whether it’s worth getting.
What Is SkyTeam Elite Status?
Traditional airline statuses are achieved by earning a certain number of status miles or reaching other similar criteria. They then provide the status holder with a set of perks on the program’s airline that could include things like free lounge access or the ability to use priority check-in desks.
In addition to that, airline statuses earned with airlines belonging to one of the three major airline alliances also provide alliance statuses as a perk.
The benefits of alliance statuses are typically not as extensive as those of the airline status itself. That said, they can still be very valuable as the benefits are offered on all airlines belonging to the alliance rather than on just the airline on which the status was earned.
As mentioned earlier, SkyTeam has two such statuses: Elite and Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite is the easier of the two to earn. As such, it only provides a limited set of benefits when traveling on SkyTeam member airlines compared to Elite Plus.
SkyTeam Elite Benefits: A Valuable Low-Tier Alliance Status
Even though SkyTeam Elite is the lowest tier status with the alliance, it offers considerably more attractive perks than Star Alliance Silver and oneworld Ruby – the other two alliances’ lowest tier statuses.
Namely, the benefits of being a SkyTeam Elite member include:
- Priority reservation waitlist: If you find yourself in a situation where you are waiting for a seat on a plane to open, you will be higher in line than those without a status. That said, you will still be below SkyTeam Elite Plus members among others so this perk is of limited use.
- Preferred seating: While airlines often charge for seat selection these days, as a SkyTeam Elite, you will be able to choose your seat free of charge. That said, the way this perk works differs depending on the airline. For example, while some airlines open up all seats in advance, others will restrict access to exit rows.
- Priority check-in counters: This is one of the two SkyTeam Elite benefits meant to save you time at the airport. When checking in, you will be able to use desks marked as “SkyPriority” which typically have shorter waiting times than economy class check-in desks.
- Priority boarding: Using the “SkyPriority” boarding lane, you will also be able to be among the first passengers to board. Generally, you will be able to board with business class passengers even when flying in economy class.
- Extra baggage allowance: The last and in many cases the most valuable perk of SkyTeam Elite is extra baggage allowance of 10 kg or one piece depending on whether the “weight concept” or “piece concept” applies to your itinerary.
While the priority reservation waitlist perk is of very limited use, the remaining perks can all be quite useful if you often travel in economy class on SkyTeam airlines.
SkyTeam Elite vs. Elite Plus: How Do They Differ?
Unsurprisingly, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers get to enjoy all of the benefits that SkyTeam Elite passengers do and then some. The Elite Plus benefits are roughly equivalent to what Star Alliance Gold and oneworld Sapphire passengers get on the two other alliances.
In the case of some of the benefits that overlap with Elite benefits, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers get to enjoy a slightly “upgraded” version including:
- Higher priority on reservation waitlists
- Access to a wider range of seats to select from
- Higher extra baggage allowance
On top of that, there are three benefits exclusive to SkyTeam Elite Plus members that Elites do not receive:
- Guaranteed seat in full-fare economy class on sold-out long-haul flights up to 24 hours before departure
- Lounge access
- Priority baggage handling
- Priority at transfer desks, immigration, and security
How to Get the SkyTeam Elite Status
As indicated earlier, SkyTeam Elite status is not earned directly. Instead, you have to earn an airline status corresponding to SkyTeam Elite on the alliance level. This generally means earning the lowest tier frequent flyer status with one of the airlines belonging to the alliance.
The below table lists all SkyTeam member airlines’ frequent flyer programs and their statuses that map to SkyTeam Elite.
| Mileage Program | Status | Qualification Criteria | Retention Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| AerolÃneas Argentinas Plus | Oro | Either 25,000 status miles; 30 qualifying segments; 15,000 status miles and 15 qualifying segments; or 10,000 status miles, 10 qualifying segments, and 18,000 status miles from banks within 12 months | |
| Aeromexico Rewards | Oro | Either 50,000 Premier Points or 50 qualifying segments in a calendar year | |
| Air Europa SUMA | Silver | Either 18,000 Level Miles or 14 qualifying segments within 12 months | |
| China Airlines Dynasty Flyer | Gold | 6 weighted trips on China Airlines/Mandarin Airlines and either 30,000 miles, 10 business class flights on China Airlines/Mandarin Airlines, or 20 eligible flights within 12 months | 6 weighted trips on China Airlines/Mandarin Airlines and either 40,000 miles, 18 business class flights on China Airlines/Mandarin Airlines, or 36 eligible flights within the status' two-year validity |
| China Eastern Eastern Miles | Silver | Either 40,000 points or 25 segments within 12 months | |
| Czech Airlines OK Plus | Silver | At least 2 Czech Airlines flights and either 25,000 miles or 15 segments in a calendar year | |
| Delta SkyMiles | Silver Medallion | 3,000 MQDs and either 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs in a calendar year | |
| Flying Blue | Silver | 100 XP in 12 months | |
| GarudaMiles | Gold | 20,000 tier miles within 12 months | 15,000 tier miles within 12 months |
| ITA Volare | Club Plus | 30,000 points in a calendar year | |
| Kenya Airways Asante Rewards | Silver | 20,000 points or 15 segments within a year | |
| Korean Air SKYPASS | Morning Calm Club | Either 50,000 miles (including at least 30,000 miles on Korean Air) or 40 qualifying segments on Korean Air in a year | Either 30,000 miles (including at least 20,000 miles or 15 qualifying flights on Korean Air) or 20 qualifying segments on Korean Air |
| MEA Cedar Miles | Silver | 20,000 qualifying miles or 15 qualifying segments in a calendar year | |
| Saudia Alfursan | Silver | Either 25,000 miles or 20 segments in a calendar year | Either 20,000 miles or 15 segments |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | Titanium | Either 15,000 qualifying miles or 20 qualifying segments within 12 months | |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | Gold | Either 30,000 qualifying miles or 30 qualifying segments within 12 months | |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Silver | 400 tier points within 12 months | |
| Xiamen Air Egret Miles | Silver | Either 40,000 miles or 20 segments within 12 months | Either 70,000 miles or 40 segments during the 24 months the status is valid |
| Xiamen Air Egret Miles | Gold | Either 60,000 miles or 35 segments within 12 months | Either 110,000 miles or 70 segments during the 24 months the status is valid |
Is SkyTeam Elite Worth Getting?
Unlike the other two alliances’ lowest-tier statuses, I actually think SkyTeam Elite is worth going slightly out of your way to earn if you travel a lot in economy class on the SkyTeam member airlines. How much out of the way will, of course, depend on your travel patterns and how much value you place on each of the benefits offered.
For example, if you prefer to board as close to departure time as possible then the ability to be among the first on the plane is of little use to you. On the other hand, if you prefer to be onboard as soon as possible to have some extra time to settle down or to make sure there is space in the overhead compartment for you then you will get quite a bit of value out of the status.
Another example of a thing to consider is the extra baggage allowance perk. If you travel with checked baggage often then you will be able to save money by booking tickets without free baggage allowance and using your extra baggage allowance in place of that. If you always travel with just a carry-on, then the perk will be of no use to you.
Summary
SkyTeam Elite is the alliance’s lower-tier status. Rather than being earned directly, it comes as a perk with some of the alliance’s member airline frequent flyer program statuses.
Among other perks, it offers free extra baggage allowance and the ability to use priority check-in and board early.
Unlike Star Alliance Silver and oneworld Ruby, SkyTeam Elite is actually a status that might be worth getting thanks to its practical perks. Especially if you travel with checked baggage.
