A 1k status match without help from someone higher up or in sales at UAL? Not likely.

Some corp. execs have been given 1k in the past as part of their firms sending business UA's way, but that is not going to be a readily explorable option for most FTers.

A status match to Premier Executive or Premier is far more likely.

I believe that AA may be dissuading comps to Gold or Plat and simply referring customers to do a challenge. That's certainly all I have been hearing about as of late. And DL seems to be playing the same sort of game too -- i.e., with challenges not outright matches.

Some people have had success doing the Gold and Plat challenge at (nearly) the same time. But it's best to enroll for the Gold Challenge first, effective the 1st or the 16th of the month, and then after that challenge start date has passed, call to enroll into the Plat Challenge effective beginning the first 16th or 1st of the month that follows the start date for the Gold Challenge. The reason for trying it this way is that some AA Customer Service reps are saying that only one challenge is allowed and some AA CSRs are loathe to overrule another once a notation has been entered into the account. In any event, YMMV about the success or failure of a (near-)simultaneous Gold & Plat Challenge.

But the worst that could happen is that they would just shut down both accounts and invalidate all miles earned, right? No criminal prosecution or such? I know I accidentally signed up for 2 AA accounts (I havent flown them in 15 years, and forgot I previously had one, and to this day they haven't done anything about it).

That's probably all that would happen. And bear in mind that I'm not a lawyer. But remember that you are extracting something from a company which has economic value, and may be doing it through fraud. So there may be some potential criminal liability, even if it's unlikely to be enforced in the vast majority of cases.

Alitalia Status Needed (from LH Gold)
 

I want to go the opposite way. As a LH Senator from April 1st (now Swiss Gold) I want to become an Alitalia Gold member.

To whom at Alitalia shall I send my request for status match? It is very urgent as I have next week my first two flights with KLM.

Is 520 881 4458 still the best fax # for UA?

I just sent a request to them - I was counting on a quick match based on their past perfermance - but this makes me worried. I start some long itins with them in a few days and status sure would help.

I'm using that fax # tonight to request a status match with United from AA Platinum. Holding my breath and hoping. Have LAX - LHR coming up and would like E+ if I don't get the upgrade. I'll post the results.

So In order to be comped to United from AA all you need to do is send in a copy of your card? Nothing else besides a note?

I have some questions, sorry if they've already been answered in the past but I tried searching and it's kinda tough.

My father has been Delta Platinum for years now and has re-qualified for 2006 as well. I told him about the status matching and he would like to get UA 1P. He currently has a UA MP account and in the past (years ago) he has been premier or better with UA. If I fax in the status match request, do you think he will get it? Or, is it only for new customers/ MP account numbers?

Also, since it's already 2006, will the status match expire in Feb 07 or 08? If it expires in 07, at what month will the expiration change to 08?

Thanks for your help.

UA is likely to give a status match up to 1P from DL PL -- esp. if he is already a 2P with UA. If done now, the status will expire in Feb 07. To get the expiration moved to 08, such a match would have to be pushed out to the latter half of this year.

Thanks. I meant he has been a UA 2P or better in the past, but not for several years now. Just wanted to make sure it doesn't matter that he has had some sort of UA status in the past.

I've seen UA give status back to people via a status match. But it's been at least 18 months since I know of a documented case that matches your father's situation. It cannot hurt to try -- with the caveat about a "once in an account lifetime" limitation to status matching (which I don't know if UA enforces consistently or not).

UA matched AA
 

Mrs. was a AA plat which was expiring this Feb 28th. We faxed a letter on Jan 1st and also sent it in mail. Her UA status today changed to Premier Ex online.

Airtran
 

Any word on whether Airtran does status matches from Delta? i searched & found they had a program 2 years ago, but anyone know a fax #/mailing address now? thanks

UA Match
 

Just logged into UA account and was status matched from NW Gold to UA Premier Ex within 1 week of faxing request. Nice work United! Made switch due to greater flight options and decline of upgrades on NW.

I am still waiting - but very glad to here this. Becasue UA had been so fast in the past I waited too long...and now may miss some miles because of it - but atleast I should get the comp.

I sent them my AA EXP and NW Gold card scans...I didn't have my CO Plat card with me or I could have used that to. I figure so long as UA is matching, they will comp me PremEx.

Anyone think whether NW or CO would match DL status - (DL has nearly totally backed out of the IAH market) - so usually end up flying NW (transatlantic) -

Or is there a phone number for to call relating to WP stuff?

You can try to get a status match, but SkyTeam carriers often talk about no-poaching of other partner elites as justification to deny a status match.

Report on Status Match requests with Delta
 

On 12/8 I faxed a letter asking for status matches based on top-tiers for multiple airlines. I heard NOTHING from 12/8 until I got a US mail letter on 12/27. The same day I faxed them back copies of my credentials to prove I was elite as I claimed. Then I heard NOTHING until today, 1/13, when I received a letter dated 1/10, the the standard DL challenge (tell your DL rep offer G*9702/16) for a challenge from 2/1 through 4/30 for 6000 MQM to silver, or 12,000 MQM to Gold. They claim the challenge is "limited one-time offer". (By the way, they never use the word "challenge". They use the phrase "offer you the opportunity to earn Medallion status quickly".

I asked for a match. They didn't give me one.
I asked for an implementation before year end to swing $50K of business to them in 2006. They were slow in replying, then dropped their replies in the US Mail instead of emailing or calling as requested.
I am flying 7000+ MQM in January. But those flights won't count for the challenge, since the challenge starts 2/1.
Another person I submitted for should also have been matched, but got the challenge instead. Unfortunately this person won't be flying until May. If there had been any discussion of challenge dates, I would have deferred the request.

AA's challenge is far easier. It all can be handled on the phone in one call. You don't have to demonstrate ANYTHING. You get to pick a challenge start date of the first or 15th of any month. They go 5000 and 10000 EQP instead of 6000 and 12000 MQM.

Apparently Delta just doesn't do status matches anymore, as CLEARLY, being top-tier on FOUR airlines (AA,AS,NW,US) if there ever was a match opportunity, that would be it.

The slowness of their system, the rigidity of the offer, and the resort to US Mail TWICE made the entire process take 36 days, and then not what I asked for, and for dates that don't work well for either paticipant (one wanted earlier, the other later). Their written offer letter, once you get it, is clear, accurate, complete, and understandable.

Delta's response was not customer friendly or customer oriented. They passed on an opportunity for $50K+ in 2006 revenue.

IF you choose to go for a DL status match or challenge, I suggest you CALL DL first, and ask them what to do, and what to expect. When they tell you what to do, or if you just send a fax, make sure you include your request, copies of your elite cards, and perhaps a printed statement from the other airline. You might also specify the date you HOPE to start on; at least then IF there is any flexibility, you gave them the opportunity to be flexible. If you don't dot every I and cross every T, you are bound to get frustrated.

I hope you have better results than I did. And Delta, if you are listening, you still have the opportunity to earn my $50K+ in 2006 revenue, but you won't get it by the challenge you just offered me. Please PM, call, email, or, if you must, write me a US Mail letter. I'm waiting.

Query about Status Matching
 

Hi!

This is my first post, so be gentle with me. I have been reading and getting mightily confused all the ins and outs of Mileage programs. I think I had a nightmare about Mileage Runs the other night!

I'm in Australia and am a member of Qantas and UA FF, although with no status.

I would like to get status on both if possible.

I understand that with the AA Mileage Challenge I can achieve Platinum fairly easily, with one trip to the US from Australia.

I understand from this UA may well Status Match me with their program, I guess to Premier Executive (?)

Does Qantas Status match? Would they therefore status match the UA to their equivalent? (I know they won't status match AA, I guess because they are both OW members).

I'm defintiely planning on the AA Challenge at least!

Hope this is the right thread etc.

Ernie

Status Match from SPG Gold
 

Has anyone had success requesting a status match from SPG Gold to other hotel chains?

Not necessarily. Challenges are based on points, not miles. Lower fares earn 0.5 points/mile, so SYD-LAX-SYD would net just under 7,500 points - well below the 10,000 you need. To do it in one round trip, you'd have to either continue on to the U.S. east coast or route via NRT.

And that's if you book an AA flight number. If you book as QF, which is often cheaper, the lower fare classes only earn half the actual distance in AA miles - and then half of that in points.

In other words, be prepared to shell out more than the absolute minimum if you plan on achieving AA Platinum status this way.

Spg Gold can be obtained without status match if you have certain AE cards.

Sent NW a match request, including documentation of past year with DL and also future flights (will make the same status in the next 45 days, with or without a match)

Will see how they respond...

Gleff, this is super thread. Is there an alike one for hotels? Or, would you please expand this one?

Just updated Continental and Frontier on the front page of this thread. What other updates need to be made? What's the deal on HP/US matching these days?

I thought this thread had hotel status matches noted too? :confused:

For Starwood, Hilton and Hyatt, Starwood and Hyatt will match up to -- including to -- their top-tier status from one another.

Hilton will NOT match top-tier status generally, but Hilton will provide challenges so that 10 stays (or some such thing) within 90 days provides status for the remainder of the year and through the next membership year.

All such matches require faxing a copy of your elite status card and a printout or copy of your account activity to customer service at the loyalty program in which you are interested.

gleff has kindly started a Hotel Status Match Master Threat just now -- and it is rich -- so I guess this one becomes the "airline" Status Match Master Thread. :D

Hotel status matches were buried in several places in this thread. I've started a new MilesBuzz thread on hotel loyalty program status matching. But it's very much a work in progress, hopefully others will share their experiences to help add to it.

Faxed a request to CO for matching UA 1P and HA Pualani Gold.

Website showed Gold status within an hour!

Gleff, thank you very much. It should be more to the point to find them now, plus encourage more frequent and better posting repsonses.

Alitalia was mentioned a few pages back.

Has anyone had any success with an Alitalia status match?

A belated welcome to FlyerTalk, javacat97.

I hold Gold status (OW emerald) with BA. I have not yet signed up for a UA account. Do I have to do this before I request a status match? Does anyone have the fax number I need to send proof to in the UK? Do I fax them a copy of the statement or a copy of the card?

FF101

Have tried to fax United 520-881-4458 twice today and both transmissions have been unsuccessful!?!? I got a 'communication error' the first time and a 'no answer' the second time...

Does anyone know if the Fax # for a United Status Match has changed?

No luck matching United Prem Ex with EVA Gold status - apparently its not one of the programs that they recognize for status matching. Anyone know if any of the *A carriers will match EVA Gold?

Is there any oneworld carrier (besides AA) that will match Northwest Silver or Continental Silver?

Not that I know of

USAirways matched CO and Delta challenged
 

I'm silver elite with Continental so I faxed a request for status match to USAirways and they sent me an email and upgraded me within 6 days. Because of this, I've flown 8 segments with them already in January.

I also faxed a request to Delta and they issued me a challenge. From Feb 1st through the end of April, if I get 6,000, they'll award silver and 12,000 will get me gold. I think I'm going to go for this as well.

I think it will be hard to keep all my status between 3 airlines. I have to see where my next project takes me to decide that I guess.

Good luck!!