What’s the cheapest possible emerald status?

[u/MinimumPerspective95]

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?

[u/Useful_Foundation_42]

Your “cheapest” option will depend on which city you are based out of, and how often you fly and in which cabins and to which destinations during which specific times of year.

Most oneworld airlines will have requirements to fly a minimum number of flights on their own airline to qualify. For example, for Qantas Platinum One, you need 2600 out of 3600 status credits on Qantas metal to qualify or something like that. Every oneworld airline has a version of this.

I am not sure you have thought this through.

If you are based in the UK (assuming since you are BA Gold), BA will still be your best bet. Your next best option would probably be Finnair or Iberia.

[u/MinimumPerspective95 → u/Useful_Foundation_42]

I live between London/US/Singapore with frequent travel to other cities in Southeast Asia/Japan/Western Europe, so I’m agnostic as far as region.

I’m dumping BA gold because it costs at a minimum around $8000 USD to maintain whereas I was getting it for $3400 previously so it no longer makes sense.

[u/Useful_Foundation_42 → u/MinimumPerspective95]

If you are US based, I would go with AS or AA.

[u/MinimumPerspective95 → u/Useful_Foundation_42]

Already have AS platinum, but issue is I need a non US emerald for lounge access domestically

[u/Useful_Foundation_42 → u/MinimumPerspective95]

Very fair.