This fall, US Airways Dividend Miles finally launched a lifetime elite program for members–the last of the legacy carriers in the U.S. to introduce a million miler program. Members who fly one million miles on US Airways will receive Silver Preferred for life, as long as you remain an active member and earn or redeem miles with US Airways or partners at least once every three years.
Silver Preferred members receive 25 percent bonus miles, 500-mile minimum on short hops, Star Alliance Silver membership, standby fee waiver and complimentary upgrades within the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Silver members also receive priority check-in, boarding, standby and access to priority security lanes.
Bottom line: Compared to the other lifetime elite programs, Dividend Miles recognition of its loyal members is less rewarding and more difficult to achieve. “But at least it’s something,” said FlyerTalk member, SS255. Unlike with American, Continental and Delta, miles earned from flying on partner airlines will not count toward lifetime elite status with US Airways. United Airlines similarly restricts lifetime status to those members who fly a minimum of one million miles on United and United Express only. Class-of-service bonuses, elite bonus miles, miles earned from partners and bonus miles will not count toward US Airways lifetime mileage tally, which includes miles accumulated from when you opened your Dividend Miles account.
US Airways only offers lifetime Silver Preferred (the first elite tier) at one million miles and does not offer lifetime membership in higher elite tiers for members earning two million or more miles. US Airways has an added stipulation that you must earn or redeem miles at least once every three years to keep your lifetime status, which shouldn’t be a problem since you’ll have to earn or redeem miles once every 18 months just to keep your miles from expiring. But US Airways is the only airline to specifically require account activity every three years to maintain your lifetime elite status.
