Status Match Advice
 

Hi guys,

I have a few domestic Chinese flights coming up on MU, most likely to be in economy class, so I'm seeking an easy status match to give me lounge access etc.

I am New Zealand based, have Gold Elite (Star Alliance Gold) status with Air NZ, and Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) status with Qantas.

Which airline should I request a status match with given my statuses?

Not concerned about earning rates etc. Just looking for priority access to services and lounge access etc.

Thanks!

Delta came to my mind right away.

Delta's is a status challenge and needs you to have status with another US based carrier - https://www.delta.com/contactus/page...atch/index.jsp

Aerolineas Argentinas is also running a status match program but again, primarily from Latin American carriers - http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/en-EU/A...fioArPlusElite

The best you'll be able to do is credit to Qantas - http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/.../china-eastern

Delta challenge is exactly what OP needs: Skyteam elite plus for a period of time.

True, but from the Delta site it looks like they need to have status with either AA or United, which from the OP's profile it looks like they don't have.

You cannot gain lounge access for domestic flights. You can have priority check in if you can do a status challenge with DL.

http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...Access-Policy/

Probably a better idea just to get a Diners Club issued in New Zealand which will give you access to these lounges around China - http://www.dinersclub.com/airport-lo...hina&x=16&y=15

I would certainly not fight to achieve status to have lounge access in Chinese airlines lounges. Those lounges a mediocre at best.

Thanks for the helpful comments guys.

Just have a question about Delta - will I get the SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits for sure if I was matched to Platinum? As I noted from Delta's status match page It seems like that I wouldn't be getting any SkyTeam benefits?

Delta will NOT send you a shiny card during the challenge period. Any benefits that require showing the shiny card will not be available to you. In theory.

In practice, as long as your SkyTeam Elite+ number is in the system, benefits are generally provided. Delta Gold/Platinum are both SkyTeam E+.

Yep, and as TerryK pointed out, SkyTeam Elite+ does not entitle you to lounge access on any purely domestic flights (http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...Access-Policy/) - this differs to OW and *A where *Gold or OW Sapphire/Emerald entitle you to lounge access on domestic flights (except for United and AA members on domestic US flights).

To get lounge access on domestic Chinese SkyTeam flights, you'd need the requisite status with the Chinese carrier itself, or a card that entitles you to lounge access (which would be the Diners, http://www.prioritypass.com/ or any other credit card which gets you Priority Pass access - some Australian cards give you this but I don't think there are any in NZ which do).

These are certainly YMMV situations. I guess OP should review the relevant carriers forums to see how these rules are implemented in practice.