Aegean Airlines’ Miles+Bonus has historically been one of the most attractive Star Alliance frequent flyer programs, mostly because it offered a relatively easy route to Star Alliance Gold status.

One of the major attractions of the airline alliance system is that you can earn your status with one airline, yet enjoy the benefits while flying another. So, you might be a regular traveller on United or Lufthansa or Avianca, but decide to credit your flights to Miles + Bonus for the easiest route to Star Alliance Gold…

The standard benefits for Star Alliance Gold members are:

• Airport lounge access
• Priority boarding
• Priority check-in at Business Class desks
• Fast track security
• Extra baggage allowance
• Priority baggage handling

Qualification

Reaching Gold status with Miles + Bonus – equivalent to Star Alliance Gold – is a two-stage process.

First, you must earn Silver status. Silver status can be reached via two different methods:

• Earn 24,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• Earn 12,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown TWICE on Aegean or Olympic Air

You have a rolling 12-months to collect the required number of miles.

Once you reach Silver status, a new 12-month period will immediately begin. To upgrade your status to Gold, you must:

• Earn 48,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• Earn 24,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown FOUR times on Aegean or Olympic Air

Renewal

Once you reach Gold status, your 12-month renewal period begins immediately. To retain your Gold status, you are required to complete:

• 24,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• 12,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown FOUR times on Aegean or Olympic Air

What is Changing?

Starting on June 1, 2023, the mileage needed will change – but only for those who do NOT fly 2/4 times on Aegean or Olympic Air.

• Silver will require 35,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline – both for earning and for renewing
• Gold will require 70,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline – both for earning and renewing

Bottom Line

The easiest way of earning and retaining Star Alliance Gold status has essentially involved an annual trip to Greece. For Europeans (and especially Greek residents), this is relatively easy to organize.

But if you are based in North America and have held Gold status since the early days of easy qualification, you are now likely to lose your elite status unless you can plan an annual trip to Greece. which would allow you to continue re-qualifying with only 12,000 Tier miles per year.

Are you a Miles + Bonus elite status member? Let us know your thoughts of this change in the comments section…