You may have been missing out on half the fun…
The only question is: why hasn’t this stuff been around longer? As a matter of logic- it seems completely fair to assume that people who fly a lot stay in hotels a lot. So, if someone has proven that they fly quite often, it only makes for hotel chains to try and get in on those already proven, good customers. One entirely overlooked way to gain hotel benefits is by using your airline status- or vice versa.
Delta & Starwood
Complimentary Status: No, but…
Benefits: Huge! Though no “actual” status is given, status perks are. Delta Diamond and Platinums receive 4PM late check out, upgraded rooms, free internet, priority lane check in and one SPG point for all Delta bookings. Marriott and SPG Gold, Platinum Members receive priority boarding, free checked bag, priority check in and complimentary upgrades. If you’re a Marriott person, remember this trick.
Take Advantage: Register here (Delta). Register here (Starwood).
British Airways & Langham
Complimentary Status: Yes, Gold British Airways members receive Langham status.
Benefits: British Airways Gold Executive Club members receive top (non invitation only) Langham 1865 Club status. The Voyager status offers early check in, late check out, actual room upgrades, choice of welcome amenity (including wine) and other great on property benefits and treatment. Langham members can also earn up to 500 airline miles per night with the brands numerous airline partners. Miles for hotel stays are nice!
Take Advantage: Scroll down on this page.
United & Marriott
Complimentary Status: Yes, complimentary Marriott (& SPG) Gold or United Premier Silver.
Benefits: Massive! United Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K members receive complimentary Marriott Gold. This status entitles guests to complimentary enhanced wifi, 4pm check out, lounge access and free breakfast as well as points bonuses. Marriott Platinum members receive United Premier Silver, which gains a free checked bag, complimentary upgrades, free preferred seating and premier access for security. You can also move points from United to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.
Take Advantage: Register here (United). Register here (Marriott).
Emirates & Starwood
Complimentary status: No, but significant benefits.
Benefits: In addition to earning both SPG points and Emirates points whenever you stay or fly, which is a nice double dip- elite members receive great benefits. Emirates Gold & Platinum members receive 4PM late check out, free wifi and priority check in on all stays- in addition to preferential treatment when possible. SPG Platinum members receive priority check in and priority boarding on all Emirates flights.
Take Advantage: Register here (Emirates). Register here (SPG).
Virgin Atlantic & Best Western
Complimentary Status: Yep! Virgin Atlantic Gold & Silvers get Best Western status.
Benefits: Virgin Atlantic Silver members get Best Western Platinum, and Gold members get Best Western Diamond. Both statuses offer room upgrades, bonuses on points earned and other perks while staying at the many Best Western properties around the world. A great side benefit of this benefit, is that Best Western is often a status you can use to match to Hilton or occasionally Marriott. So even if you don’t have immediate use for Best Western properties, you may find the status can lead to great things.
Take Advantage: Head here for all the details on grabbing your free elite status.
Singapore & Shangri La
Complimentary Status: Yep, comped Singapore or Shangri La hotels status, with fast track.
Benefits: Called “Infinite Journeys”, the partnership between Singapore Airlines and Shangri La Hotels is extremely robust and filled with perks. Singapore PPS or Gold members become instant Golden Circle Gold members with Shangri La Hotels, and need only one hotel stay to fast track to Golden Circle Jade membership. Benefits include upgrades, early check in and late check out, complimentary breakfast for two, access to special areas on premises and more. Shangri La Jade or Diamond members receive instant silver status with Singapore. Jade members need only three flights to gain Gold, and Diamond members require only one flight for Singapore Gold.
Take Advantage: Register here.
American & Hilton
Complimentary Status: Sometimes. More on that…
Benefits: American Airlines and Hilton have been slowly warming up their partnership. Back in 2016, American offered it’s elites complimentary elite status with Hilton. These offers come back from time to time- either in the form of a fast track or an outright status grant. The benefits of Hilton status are obvious, including the usual free wifi, better rooms, late check out and in some cases free breakfast. More on Hilton status can be found here. As we’ve mentioned, you can also try to match your comped Hilton status to other brands.
Take Advantage: You need to receive marketing emails or offers from American to be notified.
Quite confident you can’t move Marriott to United at 1:1 ratio and vice versa. United to Marriott seems like it would make sense for the company, but if it was Marriott to United that would seem like a huge sweetspot.
Correct, corrected. It’s just 1:1 from United to Marriott.
Nothing for Etihad ?
Any tips on how to get premier (any tier) with United Airlines?
“Marriott and SPG Gold, Platinum Members receive priority boarding, free checked bag, priority check in and complimentary upgrades.”
That only applies to SPG Platinums, not Golds. SPG Golds only get 1 point per $1 spent on Delta as a Crossover Rewards