ATA has announced several enhancements to its Travel Awards program, including the introduction of ATA Elite status.

Passengers reach the new status when they accumulate 15,000 flight activity points within a 12-month period. Once a member reaches elite level, he/she can take advantage of numerous benefits, including exclusive check-in lines, priority security clearance (where available), priority boarding, preferred front-of-aircraft seating and special offers.

Points are now earned by flights, not miles, with a one-way coach flight bringing 250 points; a roundtrip economy flight, 500 points; a one-way business-class flight, 500 points; and a roundtrip business-class flight, 1,000 points.