Get your status matched on oneworld with air berlin

I'm referring to the status match. https://www.airberlin.com/statusmatch

The challenge you mentioned seems to be a different thing.

I received the following message in response to my status match request:

Customers residing in the United States must demonstrate a booking confirmation incl. Booking Number of airberlin carried long-haul flight between US and Europe (there and back). This flight has to be operated by airberlin and carried out in the year 2017.

Then we will check the status match again. We ask for your understanding.

Has anyone US-based had a successful status match after booking a flight (even refundable fares, such as Economy Flex) on airberlin? Unsure of the wording here, as to whether a future booking is sufficient without travel history on airberlin.

Apologies if this has been addressed earlier. Thanks!

Status Match promotion terms and condition for frequent flyer programmes from other airlines:

You must register for topbonus before requesting Status Match.
Status Match applications must be emailed to [email protected]
Please attach the following information:
A scan of your current valid frequent flyer card for which you are requesting a Status Match
Your topbonus number
If you are a member of another Frequent Flyer Program, you can match your status and receive the topbonus status card for 12 months for free.
Within 6 months, you are required to collect either 10.000 status miles or 10 flight segments, in order to maintain your Silver Card until the 12th month.
Within 6 months, you are required to collect either 20.000 status miles or 25 flight segments, in order to maintain your Gold Card until the 12th month.
A Status Match is available for Silver and Gold status and may only be applied once and once only for the same status
This Status Match offer is valid only for select frequent flyer programme of other airlines
This offer is only available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Netherlands and USA.
Customers with residence in the US must prove a booking confirmation incl. booking number of an airberlin long haul flight between US and Europe (return ticket). This flight must be operated by airberlin and take place in 2017.
A Status Match with another oneworld® airline is not possible.
Status Match can only be accomplished if you provide a valid email address and confirm it via a separate email by topbonus. Additionally we need the permission to contact you via email, which you can give here.
The right to make alterations is reserved to topbonus Ltd., and may be carried out and/or be withdrawn at any time without giving prior notice. topbonus Ltd. reserves the right to reject customer requests for this campaign without any reason or in case of a suspicion of fraud.
In addition to the Terms and Conditions of this promotion, the topbonus Terms and Conditions (available to view at www.airberlin.com/topbonus) and the airberlin general Terms and Conditions of carriage (available to view at www.airberlin.com) also apply to all flight bookings in the order listed.

So it sounds like even a refundable flight, which may or may not be taken, would help qualify fulfill that requirement? A "dummy" booking of sorts..

Yes. When resident in US this worked.

Thanks! Will give this a try

Edit: One more thing to be careful of (which is a bit of an annoyance, especially if someone booked a non-refundable flight under the impression that this was the sole requirement "missing"

The status card should be at least for 1 month for longer than the current month.
Please send us a picture/scan of your current status card as original (physical card / plastic card).
We ask for your understanding.