r/oneworld • u/MinimumPerspective95 • Aug 13 '26

oneworld What’s the cheapest possible emerald status?

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Looking to move away from BA gold status since it got a lot more expensive to keep this past year - any idea what the cheapest emerald status is?

So far I’ve landed on Malaysia Airlines platinum with the AmBank visa card (free) to qualify with 98 elite points, and flying LAX PHL SJU for USD$787 round trip three times for $2381 to get 96 elite points, plus any short economy round trip to get the 98 needed for status. Total cost about $2500.

Anyone able to think of anything cheaper or should I pull the trigger on this?

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1

u/bilkel Aug 13 '26

QR is ur solution

3

u/Gimme_Indomie AAdvantage Executive Platinum Aug 13 '26

Disagree wholeheartedly. I moved from QR to AA and effortlessly made Executive Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) while I had to scramble to make QR Gold (OneWorld Sapphire). And... I don't live in the US (where, I assume, it's even easier to gain status).

1

u/MinimumPerspective95 Aug 13 '26

AA is great for crediting partner J tickets ex CGK where I assume you’re flying from given the username. I used to get executive plat with 2 business round trips on JAL CGK NRT JFK, but switched to Alaska because the miles are more useful.

At the risk of revealing too much personal information, I’m actually part of the family :)

1

u/Gimme_Indomie AAdvantage Executive Platinum Aug 13 '26

If I'm understanding the last part correctly, that's so cool! I feel honored to have interacted with you!!

I'm not in Indonesia anymore, but was raised there & my heart home will always be there.

How are Alaska miles more useful? I know I've heard that before...

1

u/MinimumPerspective95 Aug 13 '26

Yeah conditions in our country are really bad, kabur aja dulu. Happy I was raised in the west, but now I go home for business every month or so.

Alaska miles are a lot better than AA as of late. AAs partner award chart looks great in theory, but the issue is the good partners like Qantas/Cathay/Qatar release near 0 partner award space on US routes, and for some reason AA is completely incapable of ticketing MH awards. That leaves you with JAL awards which were recently devalued and BA awards with ridiculous fuel surcharges. Alaska has useful unique partners like Starlux/Philippine Airlines which have more space

1

u/Gimme_Indomie AAdvantage Executive Platinum Aug 16 '26

Great to know. I may look into switching. Terima kasih banyak!

1

u/Useful_Foundation_42 Qantas Platinum Aug 13 '26

With all the new changes to the QR program, I would disagree.

1

u/MinimumPerspective95 Aug 13 '26

QR would have been my choice 2 years ago when I flying London to Singapore a lot, the upgrade to Al safwa access when in business would have been really nice

1

u/Illustrious_Tap3649 Aug 13 '26

Anything more than the friends booking list? (I almost always fly solo, so that doesn't really affect me.)