skye1

Soon to be relocating to the UK.

I could keep enjoying all the bene's of OneWorld Emerald (top tier, as an AA EXP) for another two years, and Lifetime OneWorld Sapphire (as a AA Lifetime Platinum) beyond that, via British Airways, Iberia, Malev, etc.

But, from what I can read, BMI is interested in luring UK customers away from BA. So, what's involved in said luring?

Does BMI match another airline's/alliance's LIFETIME status?

Pending that,
Would BMI match another airline's/alliances TOP-TIER status?
IF a BMI top tier doesn't requal, is there a SOFT LANDING to the next tier down or is it a drop to the bottom?

(Yeah, I've been reading thru the status match threads and the BMI threads I could find, and yeah, I'll shamelessly admit my complete cluelessness about *A and BMI...as I think it's my one & only post to date in a Star Alliance thread of any kind )

GoldCircle

Yes, they will match your top tier status, especially if you point out you're moving to the uk. And yes, there is a soft landing, not that you'll be needing it, eh?

frankvb

I'd wager a small amount of money on them never giving away lifetime status as a match. Why would you reward people who have had an enormous loyalty to another airline alliance with lifetime status for free It's an entirely different proposition than the 'normal' status match, which will only last for a relatively short period.

I would expect them to do a 'normal' status match, the fact that they are matching it from a normal or lifetime status level shouldn't make any difference.

Raffles

I would wager a very large amount of money on them not giving away lifetime status. The whole point of a status match is to not disadvantage you in terms of lounge access etc whilst you build up your status in that programme through flying with them ....

Anyway, a decent status match can last a decent part of lifetime anyway! I got a Lufthansa Senator (Gold) match in March 2005 which got me Gold to February 2008 (status expires 2 years from the Feb after you achieve it) followed by a soft landing to Silver which runs until Feb 2010. I'll have basically had almost 5 years of benefits from it. Hopefully LH will repeat this scheme at some point ....

Efrem

BMI matched my AA status - at the time, Platinum plus recently-expired EXP, both of which I sent them - with bmi Gold. I followed the procedures discussed further up in this thread.

Keep in mind that bmi Gold, while its top tier, corresponds more closely to AA Platinum than EXP. The earning requirements are fairly similar - indeed, lower if you fly paid F/J. Also, it gives you *A Gold, which is its top tier - but *A only has two tiers, and *A Gold corresponds more or less to OW Sapphire. You get it, for example, with UA mid-tier status, which corresponds closely to AA Platinum. *A has nothing corresponding to OW Emerald with F lounge access and such.

(I agree with the previous posters who said it's highly unlikely that bmi would give lifetime status in this situation. If I thought they would I'd ask for it, but if I were bmi management, I'd say "no." After all, the reason airlines offer it is as a carrot to get people to fly enough to reach it.)

ATCO 2

Apologies if this is a previously asked question but the only reference I could find was over a year old.

I have BA Silver status would Diamond Club still match this (I have just joined Diamond Club) or are those days gone?

mbmiles88

I'm not sure I understand this right. I'm an AA PLT and I have a few domestic flights on United coming up. I don't want to waste a status match on United, but can I just get a status match to BMI and I will have *A gold? Does that mean that I can use all domestic lounges like Red Carpet Club?

demue

Given that they would match you to BD *G (e.g. from AA PLAT or AA EXP) then yes with BD *G you would be admitted to the Red Carpet clubs in the US. As a UA Elite not IIRC. Funny twist there as I think UA makes you buy Red Carpet Club access if you are UA elite. Matching to BD will do, however; if no flights come in BD *G will last for a year only.

mbmiles88

Thanks demue.

That's what confused me, because I thought that a UA *G member who has *G status couldn't access Red Carpet Clubs, so I just wanted to clarify that a BD *G member flying domestically in the US can access Red Carpet Clubs?

jjpb3

That's right. UA and US *G are restricted from lounge access in the USA on domestic itineraries; other *G (e.g., BD) are not.

mbmiles88

OK, that's great so that means as a BD *G I can access both Red Carpet Clubs and US Airways Clubs when traveling domestically in the United States. Are there any other benefits that I would have travelling domestically on United or US Airways with BD *G such as upgrades, etc.?

skywalkerLAX

I recently recommended a colleague who is AA Gold (or better WAS before AADER) to request a status match with BMI and said they would match her to Silver ?

Is there any experience with that ? Just want to make sure I gave her correct information

skywalkerLAX

No bag fees AFAIK and the occasional bump to E+ on UA if the agent is in a good mood (rare at UA).

AJO

bmi Silver would be the level to match an AA Gold to, because Gold is AAs lowest status level IIRC. An AA PLT or EXP would get bmi Gold.

mwuk82

Not sure about AA, but last week bmi matched my partners' BA silver card with bmi Silver... sent an email with a screen capture of the BA account details and within a few days... silver card in the mailbox!