Couldn't agree more. The choice of airline should drive this. What good is status on an airline you don't want to fly? If the airline that fits your travel needs best won't comp you, suffer through a few months of non-status. It'll be worth it in the long run.

Anyone know if Miles & More status match AA Platinum?

whew - glad i status matched to UA from AA last year. Made the switch from AA - no hassles at all. And then due to a family situation, barely held on to 1P this year - at 61.5 segments. Have not had a single problem.

Good luck

How do you get half a segment? Take off New Year's Eve, land the next year? In every case I'm aware of, flights are credited to their departure date.

You can get a half segment through a COS bonus (i.e. 1.5xEQS for C class).

Edited to add: I just received an e-mail from UA - I've been matched to 1P status. Just to confirm EXLEFTSEAT's experience, it's effective immediately, with the 15k UA earn w/in 90 days to maintain it.

can someone please repost the contact info to get comped for Northwest?

Thanks

I emailed [email protected]. They responded asking for a copy of my credentials, so I scanned my AA Plat card and emailed back. I was given Premier Executive (1P) with the requirement of 12,500 base miles in 90 days
to retain for 2008 and 50k by end of year for 2009 (the normal amount). So
in essence the challenge miles count for 2008 and 2009. The whole process only too 5 days, from 1/3 to 1/8.

I am not aware of a special contact info for a NW comp. I would, if you have not yet done so, sign up for WP on NWA.com and then shoot an e-mail wo the WP people. Or with your WP# in hand call the NW service center in the U.S. I am based out of Japan, don't have that number handy. Good luck.

After emailing [email protected] I received the following reply (in part).
"If your status match is approved, we will upgrade you to either Premier or Premier Executive status for 90 days. To remain a Premier member, you will need to fly 7,500 paid flight miles or 10 segments on qualifying flights within 90 days of when you were granted Premier status. To remain a Premier Executive member, you will need to fly 15,000 paid flight miles or 18 flight segments on qualifying flights within 90 days of when you were granted Premier Executive status. Qualifying flights are on United, Ted or United Express.....................Once you meet the threshold for your status match, we will send you the appropriate membership kit "

Two problems with this. Firstly, even though I would have the temporary status, I wouldn't have the actual car and lounge access on my first international trip with *A. What's the point? And secondly, I would be flying *A partners and not UA. So for the purposes of the status match, the other partners don't count!! :-( Any suggestions or experience in figuring out ways around these restrictions?

Have you checked out the first post in this thread?

M&M usually does not status match. Probably easier to get it thru BD's programme.

Ya.. I'm gonna try that too. I guess above OP was worried that the fax number might have changed given the info originally given in the first post is over 4 years old!

As far as lounge access is concerned you certainly have your mileage plus
account number which could be pulled up on the host's computer in the
lounge displaying your status. As far as asking for a match on any carrier but with the intention of flying only partner airlines I think you will find that most programs, BMI may be an exception, require you at least initially to accumulate miles on the issuing airline. What's UA's incentive to grant you status at a greatly reduced entrypoint when all you want to do is fly LH or any other *A partner? Let's be fair. I don't think there is any way around these restrictions ( if you want to call it "restrictions". I call it prudent business ). After you fly the required miles on UA metal you are free to go with any carrier of your choice. My reason to switch to UA was strictly their E+, no ulterior motives. I am happy.

Quick question. Why the discrepancy between what UA is telling people for the status match? It seems like they tell some people 15k in 90 days, and they tell other people 12.5k in 90 days. FWIW, they told me I'd need 15k in 90 days, but I'd much prefer the 12.5k in 90 days otherwise I MAY have to take a mileage run at the end of the 90 days to be sure to make it.

Ah, the eternal search for logic and consistency in airline rules and their application.