It all depends on the frequent flyer program of your choice, its rules and flights, that you take, but the rule of thumb is, that with just 3-4 flights a year you can think about yourself as a frequent flyer, who's entitled to certain perks.

To "officially" qualify as a frequent flyer in 2026, you simply need to enroll in an airline's loyalty program (like United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, or British Airways Executive Club). However, to earn Elite Status—which is what most people mean by "being a frequent flyer"—you must meet specific annual thresholds. Most airlines use a combination of three metrics: Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) (the actual distance flown), Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) (the number of individual flights taken), and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) (the total amount of money spent on "base fares"). For example, to hit a "Silver" tier, you might need 25,000 miles or 30 segments plus $3,000 in spend. In 2026, many airlines have simplified this into "Loyalty Points" or "Status Points," where you can also earn credit through co-branded credit card spending or booking hotels through their portal. Once you hit these marks, you "qualify" for perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and the highly coveted complimentary upgrades. It is essentially a "subscription to loyalty," where the more you consolidate your travel onto one airline or alliance (like Star Alliance or OneWorld), the faster you unlock the benefits.