Sep 15, 2021, 4:27 pm
Last edit by: Bohemian1
A status pass does not confer your status to the recipient.
So, for example, if you are Super Elite, your beneficiary does not get or have Super Elite privileges. They do not get any kind of Star Alliance Gold privileges.
What is a status pass?
A status pass (sometimes abbreviated as "STPA") grants passengers many of the benefits of elite status (detailed below). One status pass is applied to a booking and extends benefits to all passengers (up to 9), on all flights, on that booking.
The benefits of the STPA don't exactly correspond to any elite tier.
The status pass must be applied before travel commences. It cannot be applied after any flights have been taken. It is unclear whether there is a deadline to apply the pass. A pass can be removed from a booking up to 6 hours before travel commences.
What does a status pass get you?
What DOESN'T a status pass get you?
How does a status pass get added to a reservation?
The pass must be applied by the person with elite status (E50K, E75K, Super Elite). It can be done through the AC app or via the AC website.
In order to apply the pass, you will need the PNR (booking reference) and last name of any of the passengers on the PNR.
How do I know if the Status Pass actually was added? How can the PAX prove to airport staff that they have one?
The person granting the pass should see the pass applied in their Benefits section under Status Pass. Look at sent passes.
cowtool PNR lookup will indicate "A status pass has been applied" for reservations where it has been successfully applied.
The PAX should have "STPA" on their boarding pass.
Are status passes different depending on the status of the person giving the pass?
No. All status passes are the same. Whether the pass was given by an 50K or a Super Elite is irrelevant.
My status pass expires December 31 2023. What does that mean?
The status pass must be applied before the expiry date. The actual travel can take place any time in the future.
Do they work for award and cash bookings?
They can be applied to both.
So, for example, if you are Super Elite, your beneficiary does not get or have Super Elite privileges. They do not get any kind of Star Alliance Gold privileges.
What is a status pass?
A status pass (sometimes abbreviated as "STPA") grants passengers many of the benefits of elite status (detailed below). One status pass is applied to a booking and extends benefits to all passengers (up to 9), on all flights, on that booking.
The benefits of the STPA don't exactly correspond to any elite tier.
The status pass must be applied before travel commences. It cannot be applied after any flights have been taken. It is unclear whether there is a deadline to apply the pass. A pass can be removed from a booking up to 6 hours before travel commences.
What does a status pass get you?
- Priority check-in
- Free checked bags (3 per passenger), with priority baggage handling
- Priority security
- Access to Maple Leaf Lounges ("MLL", including international lounges) and Cafés, prior to your departing flight
- Priority boarding (Zone 2)
- Priority standby
- Unpublished benefit: the STPA seems to confer eUp priority similar to 50K status
- More details in the FAQ here
What DOESN'T a status pass get you?
- Access to Signature Suites
- Access to lounges not operated by AC
- Free seat selection
- MLL guesting privileges
- E50K status (some of the status pass benefits are similar, but are certainly not comprehensively equivalent to E50K)
- *G status
How does a status pass get added to a reservation?
The pass must be applied by the person with elite status (E50K, E75K, Super Elite). It can be done through the AC app or via the AC website.
In order to apply the pass, you will need the PNR (booking reference) and last name of any of the passengers on the PNR.
How do I know if the Status Pass actually was added? How can the PAX prove to airport staff that they have one?
The person granting the pass should see the pass applied in their Benefits section under Status Pass. Look at sent passes.
cowtool PNR lookup will indicate "A status pass has been applied" for reservations where it has been successfully applied.
The PAX should have "STPA" on their boarding pass.
Are status passes different depending on the status of the person giving the pass?
No. All status passes are the same. Whether the pass was given by an 50K or a Super Elite is irrelevant.
My status pass expires December 31 2023. What does that mean?
The status pass must be applied before the expiry date. The actual travel can take place any time in the future.
Do they work for award and cash bookings?
They can be applied to both.
Status Passes - what are they and how to use them?
Aug 13, 2021, 11:50 am
#61
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
Child 2 has been instructed on how to maximize the benefits for her upcoming exodus to YYZ.
Given that a lot of her OP (at least for her) revenue travel has been in J, I feel confident that she will extract maximum value for her entitlements.
Given that a lot of her OP (at least for her) revenue travel has been in J, I feel confident that she will extract maximum value for her entitlements.
Last edited by Bohemian1; Aug 13, 2021 at 11:51 am Reason: Where there's a way, there's a will.
Aug 14, 2021, 4:20 pm
#62
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Has anyone attempted to use the lounge on arrival with a STPA?
I've successfully added the SSR to my cousin's booking, but she wants to know if she can get in on arrival.
Because apparently departure lounge, bags, and priority services aren't sufficient.
I've successfully added the SSR to my cousin's booking, but she wants to know if she can get in on arrival.
Because apparently departure lounge, bags, and priority services aren't sufficient.
Aug 14, 2021, 4:24 pm
#63
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
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Posts: 6,226
Aug 14, 2021, 5:13 pm
#64
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Posts: 16,767
Is STPA a code that gets added to the BP or PNR that lets AC staff know the person has a status pass on the booking? Or are you just trying to be cool in coming up with an abbreviation?
Aug 14, 2021, 7:08 pm
#65
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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That's unfortunate. I would just stop giving stuff to those people and instead give it to those who made good use of it
Is STPA a code that gets added to the BP or PNR that lets AC staff know the person has a status pass on the booking? Or are you just trying to be cool in coming up with an abbreviation?
Is STPA a code that gets added to the BP or PNR that lets AC staff know the person has a status pass on the booking? Or are you just trying to be cool in coming up with an abbreviation?
Aug 14, 2021, 9:24 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
Aug 15, 2021, 12:03 am
#67
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Aug 15, 2021, 3:12 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Ex-Bonvoyed, Hyatt, Hilton, BR, AC, AA
Posts: 1,294
I was able to talk my parents into the YYC lounge on arrival with the status pass applied to their reservation, but the system, by default, rejected them from entering when the BP was scanned. But then again, the “system” also rejected them from using the priority security lane at YYZ (which they are clearly entitled to). The rationale I used with the agent was the Status Pass essentially applied 50k status to the Status Pass holder, so they should get access. Seems like a YMMV situation until AC decides to clarify the benefit.
Aug 15, 2021, 3:52 pm
#69
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For the most part, it effectively applies 50K status, but there are many things it doesn't do. Like allow guesting into the MLL.
I don't think I'd argue it, but it's definitely worth writing in about priority security, and maybe even asking about arrival access.
I'm my case, it's a YYZ-YHZ flight, so it's moot at the moment, but might be relevant in the departure date.
I don't think I'd argue it, but it's definitely worth writing in about priority security, and maybe even asking about arrival access.
I'm my case, it's a YYZ-YHZ flight, so it's moot at the moment, but might be relevant in the departure date.
Aug 15, 2021, 4:25 pm
#71
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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The STPA SSR is applied to the PNR, not a specific segment it passenger.
I guess they needed one person, and her sequence number must have been lower than her husband's.
Aug 16, 2021, 9:08 am
#72
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
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Thanks, good to know.
For the friend that was able to use a status pass of yours, did they take advantage of every or most perks available to them?
I feel like it would be a waste if they used the status pass just for, say, a domestic MLL and that's it. Also, I'm sure a FOTSG might not even know where to go or what to do in certain situations with the status pass.
For the friend that was able to use a status pass of yours, did they take advantage of every or most perks available to them?
I feel like it would be a waste if they used the status pass just for, say, a domestic MLL and that's it. Also, I'm sure a FOTSG might not even know where to go or what to do in certain situations with the status pass.
Aug 16, 2021, 10:23 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
Ditto for Child 2 on her way to YYZ this Thursday. We will see how YVR check-in staff deal with this. I'll have 24left 's screen shot and URL at the ready just in case.
Aug 17, 2021, 9:01 am
#74
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Yeah, I've noticed that those whom I've gifted status to in the past tend to appreciate the free bags and the lounge... and nothing else. I suspect it will be similar with the STPA.
Aug 19, 2021, 12:13 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
A recent (today) data point.
Child 2 successfully checked in for AC108, had revised bag limit recognized including priority handling, got into the MLL and boarded in Zone 2, all as advertised. No need to remind or poke check-in staff at all.
To be fair, this was at YVR Priority check-in where they should be aware of this benefit. But the whole thing was silky smooth. I'm glad she had her Nexus card though - the steerage class security line up was something else entirely.
Child 2 successfully checked in for AC108, had revised bag limit recognized including priority handling, got into the MLL and boarded in Zone 2, all as advertised. No need to remind or poke check-in staff at all.
To be fair, this was at YVR Priority check-in where they should be aware of this benefit. But the whole thing was silky smooth. I'm glad she had her Nexus card though - the steerage class security line up was something else entirely.