SkyTeam Elite Plus: Status, Perks & Upgrades

Among the world’s three major airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld), SkyTeam serves 676 million passengers each year, offering flights to more than 1,150 destinations across 175+ countries. Founded in 2000, the alliance is composed of 18 member airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Air France, Aeroméxico, and Korean Air. SkyTeam is known for its extensive route network across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Within SkyTeam’s status tiers, SkyTeam Elite Plus is the highest alliance-wide elite level. It offers frequent flyers priority services across all SkyTeam carriers, SkyTeam Elite Plus lounge access, and an enhanced travel experience.

This guide will help you clearly understand:

• What is SkyTeam Elite Plus?
• What benefits does SkyTeam Elite Plus offer?
• How does SkyTeam Elite Plus lounge access work?
• Status qualification requirements for major SkyTeam airlines
• How to get/become a SkyTeam Elite Plus member
• A SkyTeam miles redemption guide

If you’re planning to become an alliance-wide frequent flyer or comparing the top-tier benefits of different airline alliances, this article will give you all the essential information in one place.

What Is SkyTeam Elite Plus?

SkyTeam Elite Plus is the highest elite status within the SkyTeam alliance, equivalent to Star Alliance Gold and Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald. However, this status is not issued directly by SkyTeam; instead, it is granted by individual member airlines (such as China Eastern, China Southern, Korean Air, Air France–KLM, Delta, etc.). Once you qualify for the designated elite tier of any SkyTeam member airline, you automatically receive SkyTeam Elite Plus privileges across the entire alliance.

SkyTeam Elite vs SkyTeam Elite Plus

The main difference between SkyTeam Elite Plus and SkyTeam Elite lies in the fact that SkyTeam Elite Plus offers VIP lounges and additional checked baggage allowances, which are different from the high-value benefits provided by SkyTeam Elite. Here is a comparison table of the two:

SkyTeam Elite Plus Benefits

The greatest value of SkyTeam Elite Plus lies in the fact that it enables you to enjoy consistent premium treatment during your global flights. In addition to the benefits enjoyed by SkyTeam Alliance members, SkyTeam Elite Plus members can also enjoy the following privileges when flying on airlines of Star Alliance members:

1. SkyTeam Elite Plus Lounge Access

SkyTeam Elite Plus Lounge Access is one of the most popular core benefits of the Elite Plus tier. Even when flying in Economy Class, you are entitled to access SkyTeam lounges. Benefits include:

• Access to 750+ SkyTeam lounges worldwide
• When traveling on an international SkyTeam-operated flight, you may bring one guest into the lounge free of charge, regardless of your cabin class.
• Lounge access may be restricted on codeshare flights operated by non–SkyTeam airlines.
• Starting April 2025, only passengers traveling on the same flight may enter as your guest.
• Lounge access is available during connections and layovers.
• Includes SkyTeam-branded lounges, member airline-operated lounges, and select business class lounges.

Major airports commonly used by SkyTeam travelers:

• Paris CDG (Air France)
• Amsterdam AMS (KLM Crown Lounge)
• Shanghai Pudong PVG (China Eastern)
• Beijing Daxing PKX (China Eastern)
• Seoul Incheon ICN (Korean Air)
• Los Angeles LAX (SkyTeam Lounge)

Summary of SkyTeam & Delta Lounge Access Policies

Delta SkyMiles Gold / Platinum / Diamond Members

• Effective Jan 1, 2024, members flying in Main Cabin or Premium Economy on international itineraries no longer receive complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges.
• Basic Economy passengers (including partner-equivalent fares) are not eligible for Sky Club access.
• SkyTeam Elite / Elite Plus members from other SkyTeam airlines are not affected by this rule.
• Delta’s own SkyTeam Elite / Elite Plus members may still access member airline–operated lounges and SkyTeam-branded lounges (excluding third-party lounges).

Definition of International Travel

• Does not include flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Virgin Atlantic Lounge Policy

• Access rules at London Heathrow Terminal 3 Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse are governed by the policies published on the official website, virginatlantic.com.

New Domestic Lounge Access Policy for Elite Plus (Effective Apr 1, 2025)

• Elite Plus members may access designated lounges when traveling on domestic flights.
• More than 70 lounges are currently eligible, with continued expansion planned.
• Aerolíneas Argentinas and Delta SkyMiles members may be subject to different terms.

2. SkyPriority

Elite Plus members enjoy the following benefits when flying with any SkyTeam airline:

• Priority Check-in Counters: When traveling on SkyTeam-operated flights or eligible partner flights, Elite Plus members may use premium or business-class check-in counters.
• Fast Track Security: Access to expedited security lanes where available.
• Priority Boarding: Enjoy priority boarding lanes for a smoother and more comfortable travel experience.
• Ability to book full-fare Economy seats on oversold long-haul flights (when booked at least 24 hours before departure).

3. Extra Checked Baggage Allowance

Most airlines offer:

• One additional checked bag or extra baggage allowance at no cost:
  First/Business Class passengers may check one extra bag up to 32 kg, while Economy Class passengers may check one extra bag up to 23 kg.
• Priority Baggage Handling:
  Bags are tagged as priority and are delivered first upon arrival.
• Complimentary Seat Selection:
  Elite Plus members can reserve preferred seats and standard seats in advance, free of charge.

4. Flight Protection and Standby Priority

When a flight is delayed or canceled, SkyTeam Elite Plus members receive a higher level of travel protection. Whether it involves rebooking, requesting a standby seat, or arranging a connecting flight, Elite Plus members are given priority handling. Compared with regular passengers, Elite Plus travelers are placed higher on standby lists and receive preferential treatment during rebooking for missed connections, helping minimize disruptions and inconvenience throughout the journey.

Ways to Get SkyTeam Elite Plus

SkyTeam Elite Plus is not a status that can be applied for directly. Instead, it is achieved through the frequent flyer programs of individual SkyTeam member airlines. Once you reach the qualifying elite tier of any SkyTeam carrier, you will automatically receive SkyTeam Elite Plus status. The corresponding tiers for each airline are as follows:

1. Delta Air Lines – Delta SkyMiles

To qualify for SkyTeam Elite Plus (via Delta Platinum or Delta Diamond), you must meet the following 2024–2025 qualification requirements (Delta uses MQD — Medallion Qualification Dollars — as the primary metric):

• Platinum Medallion: At least 15,000 MQD (qualification for the next year)
• Diamond Medallion: At least 28,000 MQD

Starting in 2024, Delta members qualify primarily through MQDs; MQM/MQS are no longer used.

2. China Eastern Airlines – Eastern Miles

Eastern Miles is based mainly on distance/segments flown, and the airline does not publicly publish MQD-type thresholds. To obtain the tier corresponding to SkyTeam Elite Plus, you must qualify for Platinum, which requires accumulating a certain number of miles or segments.

3. China Southern Airlines – Sky Pearl Club

To qualify for the tier corresponding to Elite Plus, you must reach Gold status. China Southern’s program generally upgrades members based on accumulated miles, flight segments, or qualifying points.

4. Air France / KLM – Flying Blue

Flying Blue uses XP (Experience Points) to determine status. You must accumulate enough XP to reach Gold or Platinum, with XP earned per segment depending on cabin class and distance.

5. Korean Air – SKYPASS

To reach the status corresponding to SkyTeam Elite Plus, you must upgrade to Morning Calm Premium. Korean Air tiers are typically based on annual mileage accumulation and flight activity.

6. Other SkyTeam Member Airlines

Below are typical examples; qualification methods vary by airline:

• Saudia (Alfursan)
  Must reach its upper-tier elite status (corresponding to SkyTeam Elite Plus), usually based on mileage/segments or qualifying points.
• Vietnam Airlines (Lotusmiles)
  Gold / Diamond are its higher elite tiers, based on miles or segments flown.
• Alitalia / ITA Airways
  Must upgrade to its upper elite tiers (Elite Plus or equivalent), usually based on mileage and segments. However, unfortunately, starting from 2025, ITA Airways will no longer be a frequent flyer partner of Delta Air Lines.
• XiamenAir (Egret Club)
  Must reach Platinum or above, typically requiring a certain number of annual miles or segments.

How to Become a SkyTeam Elite Plus Member?

There are several main ways to obtain SkyTeam Elite Plus status, and each method is suitable for different types of travelers. Below is a detailed explanation:

Method 1: Flying and Earning Miles (the traditional path)

For many travelers, earning SkyTeam Elite Plus through flying is the most common method. As long as you consistently fly with one SkyTeam member airline, you will naturally accumulate the miles or segments required to reach that airline’s qualifying elite tier.

1. Using ITA Airways’ Volare program as an example:
   Once you reach Volare Premium, you automatically receive SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
   To qualify, you must earn 60,000 Qualifying Points. After reaching 60,000 Qualifying Points, you will be upgraded to Volare Premium, thereby obtaining SkyTeam Elite Plus status and its associated benefits.
2. Using Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion as an example:
   Once you reach Delta SkyMiles Platinum, you automatically receive SkyTeam Elite Plus and its benefits.
   Traditionally, this requires earning 15,000 MQD (Medallion Qualification Dollars) within one year through Delta flights, partner airline flights, Delta Vacations, or spending on Delta SkyMiles American Express cards.
   • Flying: $1 spent = 1 MQD
   • Credit card spend: $20 or $10 = 1 MQD, depending on the card

Method 2: Status Challenge

Some SkyTeam member airlines periodically offer fast-track status challenges, allowing travelers to quickly reach the tier that corresponds to Elite Plus. Common airlines offering challenges include:

• Flying Blue (Air France / KLM)
• Delta SkyMiles

After enrolling in a Status Challenge, you usually need to meet certain flying requirements within a limited timeframe, such as:

• Accumulating a set amount of XP within 90 days (Flying Blue)
• Earning required MQDs or segments within 3 months (Delta)

Once you complete the challenge, you receive the corresponding elite tier, thus earning SkyTeam Elite Plus.
This is especially suitable for travelers who have multiple flights planned in a short period and want to shorten the qualification timeline.

Method 3: SkyTeam Elite Plus Fast Track

Today, there are shortcut methods—reaching ITA Airways Premium or enrolling in the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Challenge—that allow you to automatically obtain SkyTeam Elite Plus.
So how can you bypass the traditional method and fast-track your way to ITA Airways Premium or the Delta Platinum Challenge?
You can achieve this through the VIP Hotel Flights Fast Track, a service specializing in hotel, airline, and rental car elite status upgrades. Below are two quick upgrade options:

Fast Track Option 1:

Simply place an order on the website and complete the payment to receive ITA Airways Premium status for one year, valid until January 2026.

SkyTeam Elite Plus ITA Airways Volare Premium for 1 Year

You will receive SkyTeam Elite Plus status and ITA Airways Volare Premium until 01/2026.

Fast Track to SkyTeam Elite Plus

It should be noted that starting from 2025, ITA Airways will no longer be a frequent flyer partner of Delta Air Lines. ITA Airways has also ceased to be a member of the SkyTeam alliance, and the usage rights for its premium lounge have expired on May 1, 2025.

Fast Track Option 2:

Place an order and complete payment to receive the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Challenge for 90 days.
From the moment the service is activated, you receive 90 days of Delta Platinum Medallion status. If you complete the challenge within 90 days, the status will be extended until January 31, 2027.

Delta Skymiles Platinum Challenge for 90 Days

You will receive Delta Skymiles Platinum Medallion for 90 days along with SkyTeam Elite Plus status, as well as additional member privileges and benefits. 

Delta Skymiles Platinum Challenge

Related Articles: Delta Skymiles Fast Track to Platinum.

SkyTeam Miles Redemption Guide: The Best Award Tickets by Region

Beyond the strong SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits, one of SkyTeam’s biggest “hidden values” is the ability to redeem miles for several exceptionally high-value award routes worldwide.

Below is a region-by-region breakdown of the best current award redemptions and their highlights.

North America: Exceptional Value with Korean Air SKYPASS

SKYPASS remains one of the best programs for U.S. domestic redemptions:

• 25,000 miles for a round-trip Delta Economy ticket
• 45,000 miles for a round-trip Delta Business Class ticket

For Alaska Airlines redemptions:

• 20,000 miles for Economy
• 40,000 miles for First Class

Mileage sources include:

• Marriott transfer (3:1 ratio)
• Multiple SKYPASS co-branded credit cards

Central America: Delta’s Hidden Low-Mileage Deals

Although Delta no longer publishes an award chart, excellent deals still appear:

• San Francisco ↔ San José (Costa Rica): 12,500 miles one-way
• From Miami: as low as 7,000 miles one-way

Use Delta’s flexible date calendar to find these sweet spots.

South America: GOL’s Fixed 50,000-Mile Round-Trip Rate

As a Korean Air partner, GOL offers:

• 50,000 miles round-trip Economy between the U.S. and Central/South America

Simple, predictable, and ideal for trips to Brazil and the region.

Europe: 80,000 Miles Round-Trip Business Class—A Top Deal

A classic Korean Air SKYPASS redemption:

• 80,000 miles for a round-trip Business Class ticket to Europe

Compared with 115,000+ miles on American Airlines, SKYPASS offers far better value.

Africa: Flying Blue’s Golden Value Zone

Flying Blue offers excellent award prices to North Africa:

• 43,000 miles round-trip Economy

Typical one-way examples:

• San Francisco → Marrakech: 21,500 miles
• New York → Algiers: 22,500 miles

Business Class highlight:

• ITA Airways Business Class round-trip: 80,000 miles

Flying Blue also regularly offers up to 50% promo rewards.

Middle East: Strong Flying Blue Redemptions Continue

Flights to Tel Aviv:

• Round-trip Economy: 43,000–50,000 miles
• One-way from the U.S. West Coast: 21,500 miles
• Round-trip Business Class: 106,000 miles (cheaper than United’s 150,000+)

Flying Blue is also widely supported by major transferable credit card currencies, making miles easy to accumulate.

Asia: ITA Airways Offers Exceptional Value

ITA Airways provides incredible value:

• U.S. ↔ Asia: 60,000–70,000 miles round-trip Economy
• Business Class: 90,000–95,000 miles round-trip

Flights to India:

• Economy: 80,000 miles
• Business: 100,000 miles

Miles can be easily earned via an Amex Membership Rewards transfer.

Oceania: Delta SkyMiles from 80,000 Miles Round-Trip Economy

• U.S. ↔ Australia: Economy from around 80,000 miles round-trip

Business Class availability is limited and generally far more expensive.

Related Articles:

• United Airlines Premier Fast Track to Platinum
• Fast Track to United Airlines Premier 1K
• United Airlines Premier Fast Track to Gold
• Delta Skymiles Fast Track to Platinum
• United Plus Points: How to Earn & Use Them
• Turkish Airlines Elite Status
• Alaska Status Upgrades
• American Airlines AAdvantage Fast Track to Platinum
• Top 10 Safest Airlines in the World in 2026

FAQ

Conclusion: Is SkyTeam Elite Plus Worth It?

If you travel frequently across regions each year—especially on routes between Europe and Asia—SkyTeam Elite Plus can significantly enhance your journey. Its Lounge Access and SkyPriority services make travel much smoother and more comfortable. Whether it’s priority boarding, expedited security, or relaxing in lounges across multiple global airports, Elite Plus offers exceptional convenience.

If you plan to remain loyal to SkyTeam carriers such as China Eastern, China Southern, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, or Delta Air Lines, pursuing SkyTeam Elite Plus is unquestionably worthwhile. It is a top-tier status that grants extensive exclusive benefits and premium treatment.

If you want to quickly obtain Delta SkyMiles Platinum Challenge (90-day status), you can do so through the fast-track option offered by VIP Hotel Flights, helping you save time, effort, and money.