Hello wise ladies and gentlemen,

I am a Flying Blue Gold member residing in NYC, who is not going to requalify for 2012 (so, soft landing to Silver). But in 2012, I should have far more intl travel, so I m wondering if I shouldn't cut my losses and ask for a status match right now, while I still have Skyteam elite +.

I m currently also a FF on British Airways, status less, but with 130,000 + miles (that old 100,000 signing bonus with the Chase card in 2010); and I have 30,000 odd miles on United from various bits and bobs.


Most of my travels are NYC - France, which besides Air France is served direct from NYC by Delta, Continental (codeshare United), AA (codeshare British Airways).

My upcoming travels include two Transatlantic roundtrips I haven't booked yet for mid-Dec and late Jan. If I throw in some transcontinental American flight before mid-March rolls around, I should have enough travel for, for instance, a successful challenge to United, I think.

Is that the best I can do? Do some airlines status-match without challenges?

I wish I could get British Airways to up me, but I can't seem to figure out whether it's doable.

Tell me what you guys think.

Thanks so much!