I finally received my status match with CO ( 90 day trial). After several e mails were exchanged (with required documentation provided) without any progress, I called today as I have a CO flight in AM and was given OP Gold (and *G) on the phone, and it shows on my OP account.
Even printed my *G card as instructed above.
I see no status indication on my MP account. When will it show up - if at all?

Your MP account will not show your CO status as of now...AFAIK...at least it doesn't show by me. I think because the mileage accounts are not linked yet. When you have a UA flight you can show them your CO status and get Elite Benefits.

If it doesn't show there, how can I use that *G status when looking for flights/awards/seats on UA site?

Received this in my e-mail yesterday at 12:43PM... sent over the intiial request on 12/27/10 and finally heard back. No change on my account yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for contacting the OnePass Service Center.

Congratulations on becoming a Continental Airlines Platinum Elite member!

Your Elite benefits and privileges are effective immediately and your Elite credentials should arrive the end of February. Until your Elite card arrives, you may print a card online. Please visit www.continental.com and from the �My Account� page, click �Print Duplicate OnePass Card.� For help with reservations you may contact the Elite Priority Line at 866-ELITE-CO (866-354-8326).

Please visit our Web site: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/default.aspx for complete details about the Elite program. Here you will find how to maintain your Elite status and the many exciting benefits of being a Continental Airlines Platinum Elite member. Please visit our Web site: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...s/default.aspx for complete details about the OnePass program.

We realize you have a choice of airline carriers and are pleased you decided to select Continental Airlines.

Regards,

******
OnePass Customer Service Manager

What is done during the "processing time" for each carrier? Are they checking with the other airline to confirm status and such? I'm about to expire on DL and would like to get CO status. I figure if they contact DL or somehow have access to DL info, I might get rejected.

As long as you have status now you should be fine.

So do the airlines cross check with one another?

I don't believe that this could happen, as i think those data are personal, also it seems strange if a FFP calls another to verify data in order to take their client.

I was skeptical of this as well, but apparently Starwood and Hyatt partned up with such status verifications. I guess they both figured they would team up to combat fraudulent claims (people just creating fake accounts with status).

I have unverified data that one can fake an elite card and apply for a status match. I'm not going there, however.
BTW, CO confirmed my DL status match, but only for 90 days (the typical Gold trial).

Hi FT,

I'm a Delta Platinum looking to do a status match on a Star Alliance carrier and could use some help figuring out which carrier is my best bet.

My details:

*I'm from the US, but recently took an assignment in Madrid for 2 years (that's what's prompting my switch in carriers -- SkyTeam service isn't as strong as Star Alliance out of MAD)

*Since I'll eventually be back in the US, I was favoring a US member of Star Alliance -- I have a few miles (less than 20k) on US Air and United. Hate US Air, but have had great experiences on United & Continental

* However, from reading this forum, it sounds like United & Continental specify in their status match challenge that you have to fly those challenge miles on their airline -- and I can't do that within 90 days

* Have a long-haul Star Alliance ticket already booked on SpanAir/Luftansa for next month that will get me 20k+ miles in the bag. Have several shorter leg trips I can book to clear any 90-day hurdle as necessary above that, but those trips likewise would be with the European-heavy carriers (ex: Span air, Luftansa, Swiss Air)

Which carrier should I approach about a status match?

Thanks so much for your help!
Laura

Sadly you may be SOL.

UA/CO now require the challenge as you mention

US does not do outright matches but has a challenge option also

Obviously out of MAD IB will be good, but that would mean AA if you want to use an American carrier, and AA is also challenge based

Maybe bmi Diamond Club??

different approach...

A3 offer *G for 20k so as a stop-gap you could credit A3 for this upcoming flight (check fare earning rates first).
You can then use the A3 status to get all the *G benefits while you start from scratch with CO/AC.

Alternatively, MA will match you to OW sapphire if you take a flight with them. You could then use this for status benefits while you build towards next year with AA (MAD-BUD is about $200rtn with MA)

May be a good idea in the short term, but the likelihood is that DC will be merged into LH's Miles and More in the not-too-distant future. Semi-informed speculation, based on recent history, is that elite DC members will be given comparable M&M status but will then have to requalify under the more difficult M&M rules. Much more on this, not all of it even semi-informed, in the bmi forum.