Air France Launches BA Specific Status Match [open again as of Jan 13 2026]
Jan 14, 2025 | 11:47 pm
#76
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,959
This is all well and good, but - as a UK-based GGL member - is Flying Blue really a sensible choice, compared to Virgin Flying Club? I ask because while status is important, so is the ability to earn miles from a credit card, and that is not an avenue that works for UK folk with Flying Blue. While I would enjoy Ultimate or even Platinum with Air France, it is of less use to me if I cannot add in miles from cc spending to those earned from my actual flying. The reason I value GGL and am saddened at the prospect of losing it is the use of the 'jokers' so I can make Avios redemptions for my family to fly at the front of the plane, where I have mainly flown with them on cash fares to maintain my status. As I have the BA Amex, I have the mileage points to make that possible - but with FB I would struggle.
Jan 15, 2025 | 12:08 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist and Ambassador: The British Airways Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Diam, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 33,194
Also note FB has a double dip deal with Accor. That means that if you have an FB account and an ALL Accor account, you get Accor points (as welll as FB miles) every time you fly and FB miles (as well as Accor points) every time you stay in an Accor hotel. The rates are not massive (think a few hundreds FB miles when you earn 1000 Accor points) but you fully get both so its a pure bonus.
To be honest, we risk being a bit ot here but do note that all of those questions are discussed in the excellent and friendly fb forum and unlike flights, you dont need to choose one of the two airlines for ft purposes so encouraging newly minted plats ultis and the likes to also explore the fb forum where questions on perks, cc deals etc are discussed quite a bit!
To be honest, we risk being a bit ot here but do note that all of those questions are discussed in the excellent and friendly fb forum and unlike flights, you dont need to choose one of the two airlines for ft purposes so encouraging newly minted plats ultis and the likes to also explore the fb forum where questions on perks, cc deals etc are discussed quite a bit!
Jan 15, 2025 | 12:09 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: BAEC GFL GGL, KLM Flying Blue TBD, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Shangri-La Jade, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 56
Jan 15, 2025 | 12:10 am
#81
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: BAEC GFL GGL, KLM Flying Blue TBD, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Shangri-La Jade, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 56
Jan 15, 2025 | 12:15 am
#82
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: EK Skywards, BA Silver, Sindbad, Accor ALL Platinum, Flying Blue Platinum, IHG, Enrich
Posts: 224
Also note FB has a double dip deal with Accor. That means that if you have an FB account and an ALL Accor account, you get Accor points (as welll as FB miles) every time you fly and FB miles (as well as Accor points) every time you stay in an Accor hotel. The rates are not massive (think a few hundreds FB miles when you earn 1000 Accor points) but you fully get both so its a pure bonus.
To be honest, we risk being a bit ot here but do note that all of those questions are discussed in the excellent and friendly fb forum and unlike flights, you dont need to choose one of the two airlines for ft purposes so encouraging newly minted plats ultis and the likes to also explore the fb forum where questions on perks, cc deals etc are discussed quite a bit!
To be honest, we risk being a bit ot here but do note that all of those questions are discussed in the excellent and friendly fb forum and unlike flights, you dont need to choose one of the two airlines for ft purposes so encouraging newly minted plats ultis and the likes to also explore the fb forum where questions on perks, cc deals etc are discussed quite a bit!
Jan 15, 2025 | 12:40 am
#84
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD RIP, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 6,335
This is all well and good, but - as a UK-based GGL member - is Flying Blue really a sensible choice, compared to Virgin Flying Club? I ask because while status is important, so is the ability to earn miles from a credit card, and that is not an avenue that works for UK folk with Flying Blue. While I would enjoy Ultimate or even Platinum with Air France, it is of less use to me if I cannot add in miles from cc spending to those earned from my actual flying. The reason I value GGL and am saddened at the prospect of losing it is the use of the 'jokers' so I can make Avios redemptions for my family to fly at the front of the plane, where I have mainly flown with them on cash fares to maintain my status. As I have the BA Amex, I have the mileage points to make that possible - but with FB I would struggle.
A plat or gold Amex will allow you to transfer points into FB very easily and give a bit more flexibility than just holding Avios. Depending on your spending pattern and the specific card you get, you can do pretty much as well as the 1.5 earning rate on the BA amex
Jan 15, 2025 | 1:42 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 27,213
GGL get super top tier. This is not a bug but it is also not being openly publicised. I am trying to get this changed as its a weird way of operating - you either want BA members or you dont. I accept it may upset existing FB elites.
Jan 15, 2025 | 1:54 am
#86
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 6,660
I hope Air France have correctly understood just how many disgruntled BA passengers are probably going to take them up on this offer!
Jan 15, 2025 | 2:07 am
#87
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD RIP, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 6,335
They will be quite happy with the extra revenue at 99 per application. Even if they only get 1000 defectors, its not bad for a days work.
Jan 15, 2025 | 2:16 am
#88
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London WC1
Programs: BAC Silver; *A Gold; SkyTeam Elite Plus; the Amex Plat stuff
Posts: 619
Jan 15, 2025 | 2:35 am
#89
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: POZ
Programs: AF KL Gold (STE+) | TP *G | LH (no status)
Posts: 247
Maybe AF/KL will open their own lounge at LHR T4 or Plaza Premium will open up the upper floor of their new lounge (the old Sky Team lounge) as well if the uptake of this status match offer is huge.
Jan 15, 2025 | 2:38 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 634
I saw this and got ready to immediately apply but despite the BA changes, I don't think I will realistically be flying many SkyTeam airlines in the coming 12 months to really benefit from the offer. It is extremely tempting, however, and a good marketing move!