Elite Status Match Program
 

I have read from a number of people who have elite status on one airline - are able to call another carrier and that carrier will match status on their airline. Can someone explain this matching program?

Usually a call to the airline's FF program will get you the info you require. Generally, they require a copy of your FF card and most recent statement mailed or faxed to them to verify you claim of elite status in your current airline.

If you are comped, you will usually find that it is for the balance of the current year and the next full year only. After that you have to quailify as usual. But be certain you are planning to use this benefit to it's max, because most airlines only allow this "match" opportunity once in a lifetime.

To add to the above, which in my experience is correct:

1. Comping may not include the next full year. It depends on the airline and on when in the year you get comped. (I was comped to AA Platinum on the basis of DL Gold Medallion in April 1998 and told I would have to requalify that year. It was OK with me based on known travel plans for the next eight months.) Check your specific situation if you have concerns about being able to requalify in what remains of the current year.

2. Airlines will generally not comp their top (typically 100,000-mile or comparable) level, no matter what status you have with another one. Second-tier is the best one can normally do, though there are exceptions to everything.

May also happen via your employer.

When the company chose AA as preferred carrier, everyone could send in their cards from other programs and get matching status on AA.

I sent a request for Elite Level Matching to British Airways Executive Club and was turned down. I probably fly 200k a year and was quite shocked. I'm a UA-1k, AA-Plt, DL-Gold, and LH-Silver. Can't believe they nixed me but oh well. I still flew on them from IAH-LGW rt. and wasn't that impressed anyway. I did manage to get elite status a few years back on CO and DL so it is doable.

Has anyone had luck this year w/ BA?

BA/QF are in the same stable, and getting comped to high level on Qantas is about as likely to happen as winnig the national lottery IMHO!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

MileTex, BA typically don't offer upgrades from one class of service to the next, and they certainly wouldn't give Exec Club status away. It's all about class/status (in the social sense), and they 'know' that they're better than everyone else... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif