Airline Status Match Master Thread: 2009 - 2011
 

With gleff's permission, I'm starting a new status match master thread, which I'll try to keep updated as much as possible. I've incorporated quite a bit of what was in the old thread, so feel free to PM me or post here with any changes, updates, etc., and I'll gladly edit them in this post.

gleff's wise words still apply to the industry, even over five years later:

Before we start it might be worth mentioning (as obvious as it might sound) that you should also send a letter with your credentials explaining why you'd like to be matched, be it a change in travel patterns, frustration with your current airline of choice, etc.

So, here we go:

Aeroflot
Through December 31, 2010, Aeroflot will match status from One World or Star Alliance carriers with this application.

Air France
Through March 31, 2011, Air France is matching status from many airlines to equivalent tiers in Flying Blue. All the details can be found here.

Alaska

Will match status, generally to equivalent level, up to midtier (which is MVP Gold). Alaska does not status match to MVP Gold 75K.

Email a copy of your current elite statement or membership card to:


American

American typically doesn't status match, but offers challenges instead, whereby you have to earn a certain number of miles within 90 days to earn Gold or Platinum status. While challenges used to be free, American now charges $150 for the Gold challenge and $240 for the Platinum challenge. While it's non-refundable, you can sign-up for the Gold challenge and then pay the difference if you flew enough to qualify for the Platinum challenge.


British Midland

British Midland may be the only non-North American program with a regular status match program. They generally match up to Gold (top tier). Let's see how long that lasts given the possible takeover by LH. As of late they require you to have a ticket on bmi booked in order to status match.

Email or fax a copy of your most recent statement or elite card to:

More details can be found in this thread.


Cathay Pacific

Based on this thread and other reports it seems like Cathay Pacific is willing to match up to Silver tier.


Continental

Will match status, generally to equivalent level up to Platinum (top tier).

Fax, email, or mail the following information:

• Full Name
• OnePass Account Number
• Current Address
• Current Phone Number
• A copy of the most recent statement from the other airline showing status and current mileage
• A copy of your current elite card from the other airline

Delta

Will match status, generally to equivalent level up to Gold (mid-tier)

Fax a copy of your current elite statement or elite card to:


El Al

Will match status, usually to a lower tier (e.g. CO Plat to Matmid Gold) than one's current status with another carrier.

To apply for a match you must already have an El Al Matmid number. Fax a copy of your elite status card & the last two months of your FF account statements, showing flights and points to:
Once matched, you must requalify for status within 6 months.


Jet Airways
Based on this thread, Jet Airways will match up to JP Platinum, although they don't include upgrade vouchers.


LAN

Will match status, usually up to mid tier (Premium Silver). For full details see this thread.
United

Typically offers challenges whereby you have to fly a certain number of miles in 90 days to maintain the status. Unlike AA, they offer the status up front, so you start off as an elite. They'll generally only offer challenges up to Premier Executive.

Email, fax, or mail a copy of your current elite statement or elite card to:

US Airways

US Airways is offering a 90-day Silver status trial for those that have a non-refundable ticket booked on US Airways. Otherwise there are no reports of them status matching as of now.


Airlines not mentioned in this thread typically don't match status, but there are always exceptions. Keep in mind that status matches are once-in-a-lifetime, so use them wisely. Furthermore, keep in mind that airlines typically don't match intra-Alliance, but rather it's much easier to match status between airlines of different alliances.

Airlines that are known to not match status:
Air Canada
ANA
British Airways - except corporate/revenue based
Emirates
JAL
Lufthansa
Singapore

Seeking help....
 

Please note that this is a work in progress since it’s taking over for a 1,500+ post thread. In order for this to work, I’d appreciate as much info/input as possible, especially at the beginning.

I’ve removed quite a bit of stuff from the old thread, like airlines that no longer seem to match, etc. I’m sure I’ve left plenty of stuff out, so I’d appreciate any updates, be it new addresses, fax numbers, alternate ways to request status matches, and documentation required by the airlines. For example, I recently requested a status match from NW and all I needed was to send them a screenshot of my mileage summary, while it seems like they used to require a lot more. If anyone has similar experiences for other airlines, please share them!

If anyone’s interested in helping on other fronts, here are some specific things I’d appreciate help on:
1. How much AA will start charging for elite challenges.
2. BMI fax number/address as well as documentation required for a status match.
3. Confirm that CO still requires so much documentation for a status match.
4. More info on Frontier status matches.
5. Confirm which fax number is correct for UA.
6. Other airlines that match. I’ve left out some airlines that were in the original thread where the information seemed outdated, so feel free to send me info that I can add to the OP.

I’ll work on the formatting a bit as soon as I get some of the blanks filled in, but in the meantime any suggestions are welcomed!

When NW says it will match to top tier (Plat) does this mean the NW Plat will become DL plat?

I would assume so, yes. FWIW I've already made the match.

First off, thanks to you Lucky for consolidating some info from the masterful work that gleff has done over the past few years. Here's my comparably meager contribution.

Gold Challenge: $80
Platinum Challenge: $150

Also, the CSR said these are non-refundable, but if you sign up for the Gold Challenge, but hit the Platinum Challenge qualification you can call up, play the $70 difference and become Platinum.

Email: diamond (dot) club (at) flybmi (dot) com
Fax: + 44 1623 724099

Along with the usual documents I assume (current elite card, statement, letter explaining why they should status match you, contract signing away the rights to your first born, etc...)

Yeah they do. Here is 'exactly' what they require as of last month (from an email received while I was status-matching for someone):

-Full Name
-OnePass Account Number
-Current Address
-Current Phone Number
-A copy of the most recent statement from the other airline showing status and current mileage
-A copy of your current elite card from the other airline

605-341-6140 is the new (old?) right one.

Also, FWIW, I 'stole' some of this from other posts around FT. So thanks to whoever (whomever?) I copied and pasted from. And the FT community at large.

Thanks THE soni, I really appreciate it!^

has anyone accumulated UNITED upgrade certificates DURING or immediately after the Challenge?

I've flown/will fly wayy more than the challenge miles. I don't know if the challenge miles are excluded from the certificates, or if all miles during challenge calendar year are excluded from certs

Perhaps I should have skipped the challenge altogether and flown normally, then I would make status AND get certs by years end.

deniah, you should start accruing upgrade certs immediately as you receive the status from the challenge. You should get four 500 milers for every 10,000 butt-in-seat miles you fly on United, United Express, and Ted.

are most of these airlines once per year/lifetime etc. ive heard that UA is once per year.

Almost all are once in a lifetime (be it the airline's life or your life). AA is as often as you want, not UA, AFAIK.

do most of then have a soft landing? it seems difficult to maintain status =/

I faxed them the relevant info last month and they gave me NW Gold until 2/2010 against my CO Platinum. Only took them 8 days to confirm by email.

Good day!

I am a United 1K with over 2.4 million actual flight miles. The DL/NW merger may create an opportunity to finally get away from UA. I note above that DL will only match to mid-level Gold, where NW will match to top-level Platinum. I already have DL Gold through the AMEX Centurion program. Would it be better to attempt a status swap with NW, assuming that when it becomes part of DL, they will provide top-tier status to NW customers? Is there a better way of accomplishing this? Looking forward to your reply and thank you.

Clifford Laughton

I'm considering doing the match to NW before they become NW/DL. I'm a 1K on UA with Silver Elite on NW (with no chance to requal this year, unless they graciously let me in at 20k).

My question is, will NW status match me to Plat for the upcoming year, despite the fact that I already have NW status at the time of the match?

I would be very interested to know this too. Anyone?

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Clifford Laughton!:)^

The way you outline would be the best way to go. Match to NW and that will eventually turn into Delta Plat. Now that they have an upgrade arrangement between DL/NW, it becomes even easier to reap the benefits of NW status on DL. Of course you still won't be earning 100% EQM on all fares for now, but that will change.

Thanks for this lucky ! ^

I will read through and see where I can help.

Did you hear from NW btw ? Still nothing in mail :(

Cheers,

--

Maybe good to add:

Airlines that will not generally match status:
Air Canada
Air France
Emirates
Lufthansa
British Airways - except corporate/revenue based
Air France
Cathay Pacific
Singapore

I looked for an answer on this but couldn’t find one for this:

I am currently LH Silver and want to switch to UA by using the status match. When UA confirms the match do I get a heads start on the actual miles or will I start with 0 miles balance and just the status?

UA and LH are in the same alliance and usualy do not match each other.

Hi Tom,
thanks for the quick answer. Apart form that problem, how would the millage be handled. Lets say I am from one world?

Turkish Airlines?
 

Anyone know if Turkish airlines does status match? They have the lowest requal threshhold of all *A airlines

OP is updated with airlines that won't match as well as a new fax number for CO.

No, you wouldn't get a head start towards higher status. If you got matched you'd get whatever you get, but you still have to fly the mileage required if you're going for higher status.

Just to double check: If I would get matched Premier would I also get the min. required miles for this tier which is 25K?
or
Would I get Premier status and start with 0 miles? I am not not counting the challenge requirements within 90 days.

So I sent United an e-mail in April to see if they'd match my Gold Status on NWA. I received a prompt e-mail response saying they would and to send a copy of my statement to them 7-10 days before I will begin flying with them and I'll then have 90 days to fly 15k to maintain the status.

Well.....I have a couple long-haul trips booked on UAL in the next month, so I e-mailed them PDF copies of the requested documents, and then received a reply the next day saying that status match requests ended on 10/31 and to contact them again in January. I e-mailed back seeing if they could still give me the challenge as there was no mention of a deadline in the previous e-mail, and I received a response that "it wasn't possible at this time." What gives?

Comments/insights appreciated.

The latter. You would start with zero miles, but just be given Premier. No elite qualifying mileage advantage.

I've been asking people about getting Status match while I'm a member of the program.. Say, from SQ to BD or LH, or from SQ to any other carrier..

Is it possible? I want to maintain both elite status when I received them too.. I fly roughly around 50,000-70,000/year..

I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but keep in mind that intra-alliance matching generally doesn't happen. While BD status matches (as of now), it would have to be from a non-Star carrier; LH generally doesn't status match.

That being said, if I understand your question correctly, yes, you can still maintain status on both carriers by flying the amount required. You don't have to give up one status on one airline.

NW status match request 31OCT08
 

I faxed a status match request to NW with copies of my DL Plat statements on Friday, 31OCT08. No response as of yet, 05NOV08.

Northwest offers platinum match, but......
 

I asked NW to match Mrs Flyerjon's US Chairman status. Sent in 3 months flights, etc. Took a week to respond.

They offered her a one-time platinum upgrade good until Feb 28, 2009. They offered her silver/gold until 2010, if she flew 10K/20K by end of December. I'll write back to ask them to see the error of their ways -- she usually pays full fare shuttle and discounted/full fares everywhere else. If they cannot extend Plat to 2010, she might as well stay Chairman, as they upgrade her 70-80% of the time.

First off, thanks for the information.

I'm going to ask another question that doesn't really connect to the topic..

I might be doing a RTW flight next year that's out of my 50,000-70,000 yearly miles accumulation.. Is it better for me to credit it to my SQ *G account or one of the *A carriers that I have FFP with in order for me to do get Status?

Thank you!

Huh, I might try this.

I'm curious as to why you want status with two airlines in the same alliance? I know there are a few limited instances where it is useful, but I'm curious to hear your rationale.

Well, I've always travelling in *A, and I just wanted the challenge of maintaining 2 or more status in *A.. It's something quite unexplainable really..

Alas.. I'm also trying to get status on other alliance programs.. :)

One reason in the US is access to *A lounges. As a UA *G I only get access when on an international iten, that too only on my last port of exit in the US. With an non-US based *G card (BD or AC for example), I get lounge access even on domestic iten on UA or US (the airline) flights

I was just matched by CO to PE from NW PE. Took just a couple of e-mails, copy of mileage statement and copy of WP card. Quick and painless. One satisfied customer, well, actually two including the wife^

I just quickly wanted to confirm that the CO information is absolutely correct. Let me add that it seems with their upcoming "defection" to *A it seems that ST members are acccepted and matched. Usually it is impossible to move within alliances. I just got matched quick and painlessly within 48 hrs from NW PE to CO PE. It's good until 2010. Looking forward to be part of *A.

Excellent info, thanks EXLEFTSEAT!:)^ I've gone ahead and added a note about that in the OP.

Ditto...

Also it is not necessary to do it by Mail or Fax. We did everything by e-mail and within 48 hours to boot. Just go to Continental.com, click on "contact us" and ask what you need to do to get matched.
Good luck to all. With CO going *A I am excited. Besides they are a great airline with great service and most of all, a great attitude.

That being said.. I'm actually seeking other airlines outside the US.. But within the same alliance or maybe one world..