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