The trick I've used to get Star Alliance Gold really fast is to hop up using status match challenges. Find any non-Star-Alliance airline where you can get silv

The trick I've used to get Star Alliance Gold really fast is to hop up using status match challenges. Find any non-Star-Alliance airline where you can get silver status easily; and email premiermatch@united.com. They'll probably give you gold status immediately, and you have 3 months to fly 12,500 miles to secure it through the following year. FoundersCard right now has the benefit of instant silver status on Cathay Pacific (OneWorld), no need for any flying. (Email me if you're interesting in a referral link.) Using this method, the only cost to getting gold status is (1) FoundersCard membership dues (easily pays for itself with other discounts), and (2) a round-trip to Europe or Asia, plus maybe a domestic flight to round up the miles earned.