Jan 2, 2016, 8:40 am
Last edit by: CoweyB
Update January 2016: Recent reports indicate the unofficial status match programme is running reasonably smoothly.
TK will only match Star Alliance Gold , Skyteam Elite Plus, Oneworld Emerald members, Emirates and Etihad Gold/Platinum and El Al Platinum/Top Platinum. 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
03/01/2016 - zap7
Multiple reports from December 16th 2015 onwards state that TK now only grants a match to 4 months "elite trial", requiring 1 international TK flight during the 4 months following the match to extend it to one year and 15000 k TK status miles during that year to extend elite status to 2 years:
04/01/2017 - CoweyB. There appear to be issues with TK automatically extending Elite membership for a second year even if the 15,000 status miles have been accumulated. Some FTers are reporting downgrades to Classic Plus instead
TK will only match
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
03/01/2016 - zap7
Multiple reports from December 16th 2015 onwards state that TK now only grants a match to 4 months "elite trial", requiring 1 international TK flight during the 4 months following the match to extend it to one year and 15000 k TK status miles during that year to extend elite status to 2 years:
Welcome Miles&Smiles Turkish Airlines' advantageous Frequent Flyer Programme. Elite card trial period will be valid for 4 months. As of start date of elite membership within 4 months trial period one international Turkish Airlines flight should be realised for extending your card validity date to 1 year, if 15.000 status miles accumulate at the end of the first year elite membership will extend 1 year more and the total validity date will be 2 years.
TK status match (2016)
Jan 4, 2016, 3:27 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: AC 35K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 232
Data point for last year's match: I received the welcome package and card (with 12/2017 expiry noted vs the 4 month challenge period per their earlier email) today, about 3 weeks after being matched. I was matching as an AC 50K (*G).
Last edited by gregster; Jan 4, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Jan 5, 2016, 7:37 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: HK
Programs: SPG Platinum, BW Diamond, TK Elite
Posts: 380
I'm wondering: What if I am able to do 15k miles within 4 months but not on TK flight during challenge period.....
Jan 5, 2016, 4:31 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Germany
Programs: TK elite+(*gold), Marriott Lifetime Platinum, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, (Ex-Hyatt Diamond/Globalist)
Posts: 220
Confirmation for match request
However: After I clicked the submit button on their feedback form when submitting the request, I received the following message on their website/in my webbrowser which I carefully pasted to my notes in case a follow up might be required:
--------------
"Your message is delivered. Thank you. "
and a table like this:
Feedback number I Your Feedback Category I subject I Feedback Type
9816192 I Miles&Smiles Progr. I Membership Processing I Request
---------------
After not receiving any email from them for 4 days, I suddenly had a simple plain text email from "Miles&smiles" with only one word in the subject "elite", confirming the match:
"New privileges for your Elite card ... You will feel more special with your new Miles&Smiles Elite card. ..."
Oh yes I do
we all do, don't we?
Others reported receiving a match in as little as 4 oder 12 hours, usually it should be 2-8 days, but in some cases it took weeks.
Jan 5, 2016, 8:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Aeroplan, Asiana
Posts: 25
Thank you zap7..Much appreciated
Jan 6, 2016, 1:36 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Wash, DC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Delta Gold Medallion, United/Star Alliance Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 161
It does appear status match is no longer. I received a status challenge - temporary 4 month period as Elite extended to one year after flying one international itinerary during the period. Quite annoying as it took me several months of back and forth with them asking for different documents and forms including a passport scan (why?).
Jan 6, 2016, 2:42 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 75
I finally got a status match from BA gold after several months of toing and froing but with the 4 month challenge. However today I received the welcome pack in the post with an expiry date on the card of 2017. I'm unlikely to meet the requirements for the challenge within 4 months. Is the card likely to be cancelled or am I likely to still be able to get lounge acces after the 4 month challenge period has expired on production of the card?
Jan 6, 2016, 5:24 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Germany
Programs: TK elite+(*gold), Marriott Lifetime Platinum, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, (Ex-Hyatt Diamond/Globalist)
Posts: 220
I finally got a status match from BA gold after several months of toing and froing but with the 4 month challenge. However today I received the welcome pack in the post with an expiry date on the card of 2017. I'm unlikely to meet the requirements for the challenge within 4 months. Is the card likely to be cancelled or am I likely to still be able to get lounge acces after the 4 month challenge period has expired on production of the card?
But if you are unlucky your card will just stop to work in 4 months as their rules say.
Since you are BA gold, I assume you might be based in Europe. So why not book a cheap flight to IST or connect through IST during the first 4 months so you would meet the "1 TK international flight during the first 4 months" requierement and have it for 1 year for sure? Y on TK for LHR-IST or VIE/DUS/ZRH/FRA-IST is totally survive-able and should be available for about 200 EUR or less for a return trip, I did it many times and their food is great.
Doing some *A flights then during the first year that credit 15k status miles to TK might also become possible very easily during that year and extend your *G to two years.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in case you can't do a TK flight, good luck and I hope you still got the 2 years validity before they updated their system!
Jan 6, 2016, 9:49 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 75
Hard to say because you seem to be one of the very first people who got the new rules - they changed it just about three weeks ago so no one has passed the 4 months yet. If you are lucky they had only just changed their welcome mail, then your match went through before they could update the card validity to 4 months and only after that they adjusted their system for the card validity so you would still have the old validity of 2 years - totally possible with TK.
But if you are unlucky your card will just stop to work in 4 months as their rules say.
Since you are BA gold, I assume you might be based in Europe. So why not book a cheap flight to IST or connect through IST during the first 4 months so you would meet the "1 TK international flight during the first 4 months" requierement and have it for 1 year for sure? Y on TK for LHR-IST or VIE/DUS/ZRH/FRA-IST is totally survive-able and should be available for about 200 EUR or less for a return trip, I did it many times and their food is great.
Doing some *A flights then during the first year that credit 15k status miles to TK might also become possible very easily during that year and extend your *G to two years.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in case you can't do a TK flight, good luck and I hope you still got the 2 years validity before they updated their system!
But if you are unlucky your card will just stop to work in 4 months as their rules say.
Since you are BA gold, I assume you might be based in Europe. So why not book a cheap flight to IST or connect through IST during the first 4 months so you would meet the "1 TK international flight during the first 4 months" requierement and have it for 1 year for sure? Y on TK for LHR-IST or VIE/DUS/ZRH/FRA-IST is totally survive-able and should be available for about 200 EUR or less for a return trip, I did it many times and their food is great.
Doing some *A flights then during the first year that credit 15k status miles to TK might also become possible very easily during that year and extend your *G to two years.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in case you can't do a TK flight, good luck and I hope you still got the 2 years validity before they updated their system!
Jan 6, 2016, 11:12 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: Kris flyer Gold, Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 7
Thanks. Yes think I was one of the first to receive the challenge rather then straight match. I have a trip booked for May with TK connecting in Istanbul hence why I went for the status match but before knowing about the possibility of the challenge. Will struggle to fit another run in before that with them. Oh well will just have to wait and see if I get lucky. I might email them to see if they can extend the challenge period until after that trip unless that risks them adjusting their systems if my original card had slipped through under the old match rules?
Jan 7, 2016, 2:37 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,275
Matching from DL to TK (Questions!)
Hi All,
I'm considering matching over from DL to TK. I'm currently a Diamond Medallion with Delta (with over 125,000 miles flown/year), and this is equivalent to Skyteam Elite+. What status will I be likely granted? Also, DL no longer issues physical cards; instead, everything is web/app-based. How exactly do I send that to TK without it seeming sketchy? I mean, I could print a temporary card from the DL.com website, but I'm worried that this won't look official enough.
Also, if there is a 4-month challenge period, am I granted Elite/*G status at the beginning of the trial period?
Thanks all!
I'm considering matching over from DL to TK. I'm currently a Diamond Medallion with Delta (with over 125,000 miles flown/year), and this is equivalent to Skyteam Elite+. What status will I be likely granted? Also, DL no longer issues physical cards; instead, everything is web/app-based. How exactly do I send that to TK without it seeming sketchy? I mean, I could print a temporary card from the DL.com website, but I'm worried that this won't look official enough.
Also, if there is a 4-month challenge period, am I granted Elite/*G status at the beginning of the trial period?
Thanks all!
Jan 8, 2016, 5:54 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Jan 8, 2016, 8:27 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 19
Help TK Status Match to A3 Star Alliance Gold not working
Hello,
I submitted a request in December for status match and provided my PDF of Passport, Picture of my A3 Card expiring January 2016, and a online screenshot of the activity on my card (I don't have too much) per below.
Should I submit a entirely new request?
But I keep getting this automated response (3 times now after I used the same reference number to upload the PDF file.
In order to evaluate your request, we would like you to send the copy of your ID/Passport, the original picture or copy of your Gold membership card's front and back side together with card statement that shows flight activities up to last two months to Customer Contact Center by creating a file via the link bellow;
https://www4.thy.com/customercontact/index.tkf?lang=en
Thank you for choosing us on your travels.
Sincerely Yours,
Turkish Airlines INC.
Customer Relations Center
I submitted a request in December for status match and provided my PDF of Passport, Picture of my A3 Card expiring January 2016, and a online screenshot of the activity on my card (I don't have too much) per below.
Should I submit a entirely new request?
But I keep getting this automated response (3 times now after I used the same reference number to upload the PDF file.
In order to evaluate your request, we would like you to send the copy of your ID/Passport, the original picture or copy of your Gold membership card's front and back side together with card statement that shows flight activities up to last two months to Customer Contact Center by creating a file via the link bellow;
https://www4.thy.com/customercontact/index.tkf?lang=en
Thank you for choosing us on your travels.
Sincerely Yours,
Turkish Airlines INC.
Customer Relations Center
Jan 8, 2016, 11:26 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: HK
Programs: SPG Platinum, BW Diamond, TK Elite
Posts: 380
Follow up on last December's match:
Same as "gregster", I received my package today, the card has an expiry date: 12/2017, and I got 2 welcome emails, one is the normal welcome message while 2nd one was the "4-month challenge" (the link in this wiki exactly pointing to my message).
I'm based in HKG, might have some EU visiting plans but definitely not within 4 months. One bad thing is TK seems to have very few freedom routes other than EU countries (e.g. I want to try the SGN-BKK but cancelled forever, and I can't route to India as well)
Same as "gregster", I received my package today, the card has an expiry date: 12/2017, and I got 2 welcome emails, one is the normal welcome message while 2nd one was the "4-month challenge" (the link in this wiki exactly pointing to my message).
I'm based in HKG, might have some EU visiting plans but definitely not within 4 months. One bad thing is TK seems to have very few freedom routes other than EU countries (e.g. I want to try the SGN-BKK but cancelled forever, and I can't route to India as well)
Jan 10, 2016, 3:45 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AB Platinum (OW) - TK Gold (SA) - Alitalia FAPC (ST) - HHonors Gold - Hyatt Platinum - SIXT Diamond
Posts: 1
Hi all,
I received my Status Match from AB Platinum to TK Gold without problems in November 2015. I didnt automatically receive the Gold Card + Tags so I just hit the "Lost Card" button in the profile section on TK.com. After 1 week the whole pack arrived.
Does anyone know if you get the upgrade vouchers with the status match?
Cheers
I received my Status Match from AB Platinum to TK Gold without problems in November 2015. I didnt automatically receive the Gold Card + Tags so I just hit the "Lost Card" button in the profile section on TK.com. After 1 week the whole pack arrived.
Does anyone know if you get the upgrade vouchers with the status match?
Cheers
Jan 10, 2016, 4:52 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TLV
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles Elite Plus
Posts: 217
You get upgrade vouchers only with Elite+, but you can be matched only to Elite.