With gleff's permission, I'm starting a new status match master thread, which I'll try to keep updated as much as possible. I've incorporated quite a bit of what was in the old thread, so feel free to PM me or post here with any changes, updates, etc., and I'll gladly edit them in this post.
gleff's wise words still apply to the industry, even over five years later:
Quote:
As we approve the end of a benefits year, airlines are beginning to reveal changes to their frequent flyer programs for 2004. They want more revenue at a lower cost. Their static models probably predict that their changes will accomplish this. Some may, some may not.
But I believe it's important for us to remember that while they're doing their job, we don't have to be sympathetic. After all, we're customers. And we have every right to seek out the product that best fits our needs. If an airline program offers a better deal for our flying and buying patterns, by all means we should take advantage of that offer!
And many airlines make it easier for us to do so -- by matching our current status with elite privileges in their program.
One of the most frequently asked questions on Flyertalk, throughout the various forums, is "Will airline X match my titanium status in the Infinite Airways program?" or something to that effect. And since fellow flyers are beginning to think about their plans for 2004, I thought I'd take a stab at summarizing the "who will match what? and how do I do it?" conventional wisdom.
Before we start it might be worth mentioning (as obvious as it might sound) that you should also send a letter with your credentials explaining why you'd like to be matched, be it a change in travel patterns, frustration with your current airline of choice, etc.
So, here we go:
Aeroflot
Through December 31, 2010, Aeroflot will match status from One World or Star Alliance carriers with this application.
Air France
Through March 31, 2011, Air France is matching status from many airlines to equivalent tiers in Flying Blue. All the details can be found here.
Alaska
Will match status, generally to equivalent level, up to midtier (which is MVP Gold). Alaska does not status match to MVP Gold 75K.
Email a copy of your current elite statement or membership card to:
American typically doesn't status match, but offers challenges instead, whereby you have to earn a certain number of miles within 90 days to earn Gold or Platinum status. While challenges used to be free, American now charges $150 for the Gold challenge and $240 for the Platinum challenge. While it's non-refundable, you can sign-up for the Gold challenge and then pay the difference if you flew enough to qualify for the Platinum challenge.
British Midland
British Midland may be the only non-North American program with a regular status match program. They generally match up to Gold (top tier). Let's see how long that lasts given the possible takeover by LH. As of late they require you to have a ticket on bmi booked in order to status match.
Email or fax a copy of your most recent statement or elite card to:
Based on this thread and other reports it seems like Cathay Pacific is willing to match up to Silver tier.
Continental
Will match status, generally to equivalent level up to Platinum (top tier).
Fax, email, or mail the following information:
Full Name
OnePass Account Number
Current Address
Current Phone Number
A copy of the most recent statement from the other airline showing status and current mileage
A copy of your current elite card from the other airline
Quote:
OA Match Request
P.O. Box 4757
Houston, TX 77210-4757
Fax: 713-324-3702 onepass@coair.com
Subject: OA Match
Delta
Will match status, generally to equivalent level up to Gold (mid-tier)
Fax a copy of your current elite statement or elite card to:
Quote:
Delta Skymiles Service Center
Attn: Elite Status Match
Fax: 404-773-1945
El Al
Will match status, usually to a lower tier (e.g. CO Plat to Matmid Gold) than one's current status with another carrier.
To apply for a match you must already have an El Al Matmid number. Fax a copy of your elite status card & the last two months of your FF account statements, showing flights and points to:
Quote:
El Al Airlines
Matmid Frequent Flyer Program
Fax # 011-972-3-760-4043
Once matched, you must requalify for status within 6 months.
Jet Airways
Based on this thread, Jet Airways will match up to JP Platinum, although they don't include upgrade vouchers.
LAN
Will match status, usually up to mid tier (Premium Silver). For full details see this thread.
Quote:
SCAN and email or FAX your AAdvantage paper statements to LANPASS (+562-5658983) or Gerlanpass@lanchile.cl
United
Typically offers challenges whereby you have to fly a certain number of miles in 90 days to maintain the status. Unlike AA, they offer the status up front, so you start off as an elite. They'll generally only offer challenges up to Premier Executive.
Email, fax, or mail a copy of your current elite statement or elite card to:
Quote:
Mileage Plus Service Center
Attention: Premier Status Match
P.O. Box 28870
Tucson, AZ 85726
Email: premiermatch@united.com
Fax: 605-341-6140
US Airways
US Airways is offering a 90-day Silver status trial for those that have a non-refundable ticket booked on US Airways. Otherwise there are no reports of them status matching as of now.
Airlines not mentioned in this thread typically don't match status, but there are always exceptions. Keep in mind that status matches are once-in-a-lifetime, so use them wisely. Furthermore, keep in mind that airlines typically don't match intra-Alliance, but rather it's much easier to match status between airlines of different alliances.
Airlines that are known to not match status:
Air Canada
ANA
British Airways - except corporate/revenue based
Emirates
JAL
Lufthansa
Singapore
Please note that this is a work in progress since it’s taking over for a 1,500+ post thread. In order for this to work, I’d appreciate as much info/input as possible, especially at the beginning.
I’ve removed quite a bit of stuff from the old thread, like airlines that no longer seem to match, etc. I’m sure I’ve left plenty of stuff out, so I’d appreciate any updates, be it new addresses, fax numbers, alternate ways to request status matches, and documentation required by the airlines. For example, I recently requested a status match from NW and all I needed was to send them a screenshot of my mileage summary, while it seems like they used to require a lot more. If anyone has similar experiences for other airlines, please share them!
If anyone’s interested in helping on other fronts, here are some specific things I’d appreciate help on:
1. How much AA will start charging for elite challenges.
2. BMI fax number/address as well as documentation required for a status match.
3. Confirm that CO still requires so much documentation for a status match.
4. More info on Frontier status matches.
5. Confirm which fax number is correct for UA.
6. Other airlines that match. I’ve left out some airlines that were in the original thread where the information seemed outdated, so feel free to send me info that I can add to the OP.
I’ll work on the formatting a bit as soon as I get some of the blanks filled in, but in the meantime any suggestions are welcomed!
First off, thanks to you Lucky for consolidating some info from the masterful work that gleff has done over the past few years. Here's my comparably meager contribution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
If anyone’s interested in helping on other fronts, here are some specific things I’d appreciate help on:
1. How much AA will start charging for elite challenges.
Gold Challenge: $80
Platinum Challenge: $150
Also, the CSR said these are non-refundable, but if you sign up for the Gold Challenge, but hit the Platinum Challenge qualification you can call up, play the $70 difference and become Platinum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
2. BMI fax number/address as well as documentation required for a status match..
Email: diamond (dot) club (at) flybmi (dot) com
Fax: + 44 1623 724099
Along with the usual documents I assume (current elite card, statement, letter explaining why they should status match you, contract signing away the rights to your first born, etc...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
3. Confirm that CO still requires so much documentation for a status match.
Yeah they do. Here is 'exactly' what they require as of last month (from an email received while I was status-matching for someone):
-Full Name
-OnePass Account Number
-Current Address
-Current Phone Number
-A copy of the most recent statement from the other airline showing status and current mileage
-A copy of your current elite card from the other airline
Quote:
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
5. Confirm which fax number is correct for UA.
605-341-6140 is the new (old?) right one.
Also, FWIW, I 'stole' some of this from other posts around FT. So thanks to whoever (whomever?) I copied and pasted from. And the FT community at large.
has anyone accumulated UNITED upgrade certificates DURING or immediately after the Challenge?
I've flown/will fly wayy more than the challenge miles. I don't know if the challenge miles are excluded from the certificates, or if all miles during challenge calendar year are excluded from certs
Perhaps I should have skipped the challenge altogether and flown normally, then I would make status AND get certs by years end.
deniah, you should start accruing upgrade certs immediately as you receive the status from the challenge. You should get four 500 milers for every 10,000 butt-in-seat miles you fly on United, United Express, and Ted.
I am a United 1K with over 2.4 million actual flight miles. The DL/NW merger may create an opportunity to finally get away from UA. I note above that DL will only match to mid-level Gold, where NW will match to top-level Platinum. I already have DL Gold through the AMEX Centurion program. Would it be better to attempt a status swap with NW, assuming that when it becomes part of DL, they will provide top-tier status to NW customers? Is there a better way of accomplishing this? Looking forward to your reply and thank you.
I'm considering doing the match to NW before they become NW/DL. I'm a 1K on UA with Silver Elite on NW (with no chance to requal this year, unless they graciously let me in at 20k).
My question is, will NW status match me to Plat for the upcoming year, despite the fact that I already have NW status at the time of the match?
I am a United 1K with over 2.4 million actual flight miles. The DL/NW merger may create an opportunity to finally get away from UA. I note above that DL will only match to mid-level Gold, where NW will match to top-level Platinum. I already have DL Gold through the AMEX Centurion program. Would it be better to attempt a status swap with NW, assuming that when it becomes part of DL, they will provide top-tier status to NW customers? Is there a better way of accomplishing this? Looking forward to your reply and thank you.
Clifford Laughton
I would be very interested to know this too. Anyone?
Airline Status Match Master Thread: 2009 - 2011
Seeking help....
