US Airways Elites Can Pay to Retain or Upgrade Status

Following American’s announcement that it would allow current elite members of its AAdvantage program to pay to either retain or boost their status for 2015, it was just a matter of time before US Airways made a similar offer to Dividend Miles elites. After all, the two programs will be merged next year, at which point current Dividend Miles elites will become AAdvantage elites.

Also predictably, the prices for Dividend Miles members to retain or upgrade their status are the same as the prices AAdvantage members will pay for comparable consideration.

The Boost

• Current elite members who are within 5,000 miles or five segments of qualifying for Silver status can pay $399 for Gold through 2015.
• Current elite members who are within 10,000 miles or 10 segments of qualifying for Silver status can pay $499 for Gold through 2015.
• Current elite members who are within 5,000 miles or five segments of qualifying for Gold status can pay $699 for Platinum through 2015.
• Current elite members who are within 10,000 miles or 10 segments of qualifying for Gold status can pay $899 for Platinum through 2015.
• Current elite members who are within 5,000 miles or five segments of qualifying for Chairman’s Preferred status can pay $1,199 for Chairman’s Preferred through 2015.
• Current elite members who are within 10,000 miles or 10 segments of qualifying for Chairman’s Preferred status can pay $1,799 for Chairman’s Preferred through 2015.

The Buy Back

• Current Silver, Gold, and Chairman’s Preferred members who are not within boost range can pay $649 for Silver through 2015.
• Current Silver, Gold, and Chairman’s Preferred members who are not within boost range can pay $1,199 for Gold through 2015.
• There’s no buy-back option for Chairman’s Preferred status.

There are no boost or buy-back offers for US Airways fourth elite tier, Platinum Preferred, since there will only be three tiers when Dividend Miles and AAdvantage are merged in the second quarter of 2015.

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The Verdict

Although there’s still time to earn more elite-qualifying miles before the end of 2014 — by making a mileage run, for instance — some travel-weary flyers will welcome the opportunity to avoid the unfriendly skies and simply use a credit card to lock in elite perks for the next year.

Reader Reality Check

How much would you pay to retain your status?

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.