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FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Dec 31, 2014, 6:18 pm by floleeUpdate March 2015: Recent reports indicate the unofficial status match programme is running reasonably smoothly.
TK will only match Star Alliance Gold, Skyteam Elite Plus and Oneworld Emerald members. Other, more exotic, gold card holders are out of luck. Please report your experience in this thread.
It appears that status matches are only granted once per lifetime, so think carefully before requesting if you might not re-qualify.
Please note that the only way to contact TK is now via the website
2/6/2015 new info from TK
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on 20 January 2015. Please be informed that when you claim your first flight with Turkish Airlines or other Star Alliance members to your Miles&Smiles account, your card will be sent to your address automatically.
On the otherhand, we would like to remind you that you can also get your original Miles&Smiles Card from Card Press Desk at Ataturk Airport International Terminal between 07.30 A.M and 09.45 PM. The location of Card Press desk is between A and B Check-in counters.
4/7/2015
Adding this Step-by-Step guide with screenshots to TK Status Match
http://dcta.boardingarea.com/2015/02...-status-match/
26/7/2015 - Jerry
TK asks for Elite card scan AND Account activity within last 2 months, so it's best if you have some activities!!
Timeline can range from few hours to few days, be patient!
21/9/2015 - Neil791
For those reporting successful matches, can you please post your results as follows so others can estimate their wait times, success rates
02/11/2015 - flolee
It looks like TK might also ask you for a scan of your Passport now. So if you are in a hurry better submit it right away in the first place with all the other documents.
Date Requested
Current Airline and Status (i.e. AB TopBonus, AA Plat, etc)
Information submitted (i.e. physical card scan, activity statement, etc)
Any replies received other than confirmation
Date Confirmation Received
#241
vishalgupta22 , Apr 13, 2015 8:47 am
Apr 13, 2024Quote:
4/7 submitted A3 Gold card + statement (all from 2014 though, no 2015 activities)
4/13
Got the "upgraded" email at 7:43 am
but then followed by this at 8:18 am
I did check - my account was actually upgraded AND then DOWNGRADED? funny
So what should I submit now? I don't have any "paid" *A flights in the last 2 months to show, I have Delta flights or Aeroplan-reward flights though....
I thought they didn't care about recent statements???
or should I just re-submit the whole thing again (card scan + statement PDF) and hope this time a different agent is less picky?
At this point, the only option is to resubmit everything. Worst case can't be any worse than what you already have (no status with TK).Originally Posted by jerryhung
Strange4/7 submitted A3 Gold card + statement (all from 2014 though, no 2015 activities)
4/13
Got the "upgraded" email at 7:43 am
but then followed by this at 8:18 am
I did check - my account was actually upgraded AND then DOWNGRADED? funny
So what should I submit now? I don't have any "paid" *A flights in the last 2 months to show, I have Delta flights or Aeroplan-reward flights though....
I thought they didn't care about recent statements???
or should I just re-submit the whole thing again (card scan + statement PDF) and hope this time a different agent is less picky?
#242
vishalgupta22 , Apr 13, 2015 8:56 am
Quote:
I'm just saying it doesn't really make sense, given that OW*S is basically equal to *G, and it makes more sense to try to poach from a competing alliance than your own alliance.
I understand your point about OWS & *G being similar to some extent.Originally Posted by stargold
As you can see from my post, I am very aware of the policy.I'm just saying it doesn't really make sense, given that OW*S is basically equal to *G, and it makes more sense to try to poach from a competing alliance than your own alliance.
This is what I think is happening. Someone is exec team came up with "Let's try to attract some of the highest spending members from other airlines to use our FF program. If we need to status match them, let's do it."
In "literal" translation, top tier members translate to most spending members.
I am not very familiar with *A (except united) so don't know if it's trivial to get *G but I know that getting OWS (especially BA) is quite easy for a lot of travelers.
#243
State of Trance , Apr 13, 2015 10:47 am
Quote:
*G is quite easy to get on several airlines. Everybody already knows about A3, but OZ will give you *G with 40K/2 years and even TK is easy enough with 40K/year and only 25K/year afterwards to renew. UA also gives lifetime *G to 1MM which beats the lifetime ST E/OW R from DL and AA respectively.Originally Posted by vishalgupta22
I am not very familiar with *A (except united) so don't know if it's trivial to get *G but I know that getting OWS (especially BA) is quite easy for a lot of travelers.
#244
Quote:
Attempt #2 (reply to #1 with some explanation/polite request since I didn't have *A flights in the last 2 months) led to same reply Originally Posted by vishalgupta22
At this point, the only option is to resubmit everything. Worst case can't be any worse than what you already have (no status with TK).
Quote:
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on April 13th, 2015. In order to evaluate your request about Gold membership status match, we would like you to send the copy of your original Gold membership card statement which
shows the last two months of your flights by using the link below;
Am I just unfortunate?We have received your message that you sent to our unit on April 13th, 2015. In order to evaluate your request about Gold membership status match, we would like you to send the copy of your original Gold membership card statement which
shows the last two months of your flights by using the link below;
I can't be the only one here submitting A3 Gold without a flight credited to A3 in last 2 months?
I sent my Alaska statement (with DL flights on there)
Worst case, I'll credit my TK flights in May to A3 or TK and show them that instead. Was hoping to get TK Gold before my trip to IST, but looks like they don't want me
#246
mingster23 , Apr 21, 2015 7:33 am
Just received a similar reply -
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on April 6th, 2015. In order to evaluate your request about Gold membership status match, we would like you to send the copy of your membership statement which shows the last two months of your flights by using the link below;
Unfortunately I've got nothing with A3 the last 2 months with all of my activity being last year. I might try my Airberlin Topbonus Gold card when it arrives otherwise I'll have to wait for some work travel before I try again.
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on April 6th, 2015. In order to evaluate your request about Gold membership status match, we would like you to send the copy of your membership statement which shows the last two months of your flights by using the link below;
Unfortunately I've got nothing with A3 the last 2 months with all of my activity being last year. I might try my Airberlin Topbonus Gold card when it arrives otherwise I'll have to wait for some work travel before I try again.
#247
State of Trance , Apr 21, 2015 11:32 am
For what it's worth, I submitted my match request last November, with my last flight A3 activity occurring more than three months prior and the match went through just fine YMMV though, and I also sent them my DL credentials so it is possible they matched that instead.
#248
giancarlosilvestri , Apr 21, 2015 12:22 pm
Greetings everyone, I sent today the request via email from a FB GOLD at aprox 13:30 and by 20:00 the same day got the confirmation of my new *A GOLD (Elite TK).
#249
Inconsistency is frustrating
Anyway, I've booked 2 TK domestic flights crediting to A3 in May
I'll retry my status match again after those 2 flights (2 TK flights in my last 2 months on A3), not sure how instantly valuable that makes me....
Anyway, I've booked 2 TK domestic flights crediting to A3 in May
I'll retry my status match again after those 2 flights (2 TK flights in my last 2 months on A3), not sure how instantly valuable that makes me....
#251
Quote:
Did you get your match in already then? ha haOriginally Posted by iamaho
Honestly, I am glad it has finally happened. It's about time TK stopped giving matches to all the bottom-feeding A3 refugees flooding into TK M&S.
I'm sure there are many A3 *G that are regular flyers, but anyway, I'd be okay if they have a rule requiring XXX level of activity in the last 2 months (e.g. 10 segments), but if not, then it's YMMV for everyone
#252
Asked for a status match yesterday (sent my FB Platinum & CX Diamond account screen captures & cards). Received an email today informing me I was status matched to Classic Plus. Checked my online account and saw I was actually granted Elite status.
#253
State of Trance , Apr 22, 2015 9:29 am
Quote:
I'm sure there are many A3 *G that are regular flyers, but anyway, I'd be okay if they have a rule requiring XXX level of activity in the last 2 months (e.g. 10 segments), but if not, then it's YMMV for everyone
It's probably in TK's best interest to crack down on the A3 refugees, lest they become the new A3.Originally Posted by jerryhung
Did you get your match in already then? ha haI'm sure there are many A3 *G that are regular flyers, but anyway, I'd be okay if they have a rule requiring XXX level of activity in the last 2 months (e.g. 10 segments), but if not, then it's YMMV for everyone
Granted, TK status isn't that hard to come by anyways. 40K/year for 2 years of *G is pretty low to begin with, and the 25K/year to renew is crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if TK decides to increase the requalification threshold to ~40K/year or so for non-Turkey residents.
#254
Quote:
Granted, TK status isn't that hard to come by anyways. 40K/year for 2 years of *G is pretty low to begin with, and the 25K/year to renew is crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if TK decides to increase the requalification threshold to ~40K/year or so for non-Turkey residents.
25K a year, even now with discount fares earning 25% to 50%, is still easy. I would also like to see TK adding metal requirements to upgrading/renewing the statuses as well. Originally Posted by State of Trance
It's probably in TK's best interest to crack down on the A3 refugees, lest they become the new A3.Granted, TK status isn't that hard to come by anyways. 40K/year for 2 years of *G is pretty low to begin with, and the 25K/year to renew is crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if TK decides to increase the requalification threshold to ~40K/year or so for non-Turkey residents.
Let's see how long TK will keep status matching before the lounge gets absolutely jammed on both floors. For the same reason I have stopped giving out advice on which Star Alliance FFP to switch to/join, as soon as those leeches and poachers find out they'll ruin another easy/lenient FFP.
#255
State of Trance , Apr 22, 2015 12:52 pm
Quote:
Let's see how long TK will keep status matching before the lounge gets absolutely jammed on both floors. For the same reason I have stopped giving out advice on which Star Alliance FFP to switch to/join, as soon as those leeches and poachers find out they'll ruin another easy/lenient FFP.
With discount UA Y fares only netting 25% to 50%, those flyers will have to fly ~50K-100K BIS miles to qualify at 25K. It honestly might be better off for UA-heavy flyers (e.g. most US based A3/TK *G) to just go for UA status or find a different FFP more generous to those bargain basement fares.Originally Posted by vincewy
25K a year, even now with discount fares earning 25% to 50%, is still easy. I would also like to see TK adding metal requirements to upgrading/renewing the statuses as well. Let's see how long TK will keep status matching before the lounge gets absolutely jammed on both floors. For the same reason I have stopped giving out advice on which Star Alliance FFP to switch to/join, as soon as those leeches and poachers find out they'll ruin another easy/lenient FFP.
I'll be happy with M&S as long as SQ continues to accrue 100% on mid-level Y fares. If that day ever comes, you'll find me jumping ship to OZ...although I may end up doing so anyways seeing as how they seem to give 100% miles on their own flights regardless of fare.