Jan 2, 2016, 8:40 am
Last edit by: CoweyB
Update January 2016: Recent reports indicate the unofficial status match programme is running reasonably smoothly.
TK will only match Star Alliance Gold , Skyteam Elite Plus, Oneworld Emerald members, Emirates and Etihad Gold/Platinum and El Al Platinum/Top Platinum. Other, more exotic, gold card holders are out of luck. Please report your experience in this thread.
It appears that status matches are only granted once per lifetime, so think carefully before requesting if you might not re-qualify.
Please note that the only way to contact TK is now via the website
2/6/2015 new info from TK
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on 20 January 2015. Please be informed that when you claim your first flight with Turkish Airlines or other Star Alliance members to your Miles&Smiles account, your card will be sent to your address automatically.
On the otherhand, we would like to remind you that you can also get your original Miles&Smiles Card from Card Press Desk at Ataturk Airport International Terminal between 07.30 A.M and 09.45 PM. The location of Card Press desk is between A and B Check-in counters.
4/7/2015
Adding this Step-by-Step guide with screenshots to TK Status Match
http://dcta.boardingarea.com/2015/02...-status-match/
26/7/2015 - Jerry
TK asks for Elite card scan AND Account activity within last 2 months, so it's best if you have some activities!!
Timeline can range from few hours to few days, be patient!
21/9/2015 - Neil791
For those reporting successful matches, can you please post your results as follows so others can estimate their wait times, success rates
02/11/2015 - flolee
It looks like TK might also ask you for a scan of your Passport now. So if you are in a hurry better submit it right away in the first place with all the other documents.
Date Requested
Current Airline and Status (i.e. AB TopBonus, AA Plat, etc)
Information submitted (i.e. physical card scan, activity statement, etc)
Any replies received other than confirmation
Date Confirmation Received
03/01/2016 - zap7
Multiple reports from December 16th 2015 onwards state that TK now only grants a match to 4 months "elite trial", requiring 1 international TK flight during the 4 months following the match to extend it to one year and 15000 k TK status miles during that year to extend elite status to 2 years:
04/01/2017 - CoweyB. There appear to be issues with TK automatically extending Elite membership for a second year even if the 15,000 status miles have been accumulated. Some FTers are reporting downgrades to Classic Plus instead
TK will only match
It appears that status matches are only granted once per lifetime, so think carefully before requesting if you might not re-qualify.
Please note that the only way to contact TK is now via the website
2/6/2015 new info from TK
We have received your message that you sent to our unit on 20 January 2015. Please be informed that when you claim your first flight with Turkish Airlines or other Star Alliance members to your Miles&Smiles account, your card will be sent to your address automatically.
On the otherhand, we would like to remind you that you can also get your original Miles&Smiles Card from Card Press Desk at Ataturk Airport International Terminal between 07.30 A.M and 09.45 PM. The location of Card Press desk is between A and B Check-in counters.
4/7/2015
Adding this Step-by-Step guide with screenshots to TK Status Match
http://dcta.boardingarea.com/2015/02...-status-match/
26/7/2015 - Jerry
TK asks for Elite card scan AND Account activity within last 2 months, so it's best if you have some activities!!
Timeline can range from few hours to few days, be patient!
21/9/2015 - Neil791
For those reporting successful matches, can you please post your results as follows so others can estimate their wait times, success rates
02/11/2015 - flolee
It looks like TK might also ask you for a scan of your Passport now. So if you are in a hurry better submit it right away in the first place with all the other documents.
Date Requested
Current Airline and Status (i.e. AB TopBonus, AA Plat, etc)
Information submitted (i.e. physical card scan, activity statement, etc)
Any replies received other than confirmation
Date Confirmation Received
03/01/2016 - zap7
Multiple reports from December 16th 2015 onwards state that TK now only grants a match to 4 months "elite trial", requiring 1 international TK flight during the 4 months following the match to extend it to one year and 15000 k TK status miles during that year to extend elite status to 2 years:
Welcome Miles&Smiles Turkish Airlines' advantageous Frequent Flyer Programme. Elite card trial period will be valid for 4 months. As of start date of elite membership within 4 months trial period one international Turkish Airlines flight should be realised for extending your card validity date to 1 year, if 15.000 status miles accumulate at the end of the first year elite membership will extend 1 year more and the total validity date will be 2 years.
TK status match (2016)
Oct 6, 2016, 12:10 am
#226
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
Oct 6, 2016, 9:52 am
#227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
And there's not much point in seeking a match if you don't intend making a few flights on Turkish and Star partners over the coming months.
If that amount of activity seems unlikely, put off applying till you're sure you will make the trips.
Oct 6, 2016, 11:25 pm
#228
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
OK thanks
Oct 7, 2016, 1:47 am
#229
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,842
The challenge really isn't very taxing.
And there's not much point in seeking a match if you don't intend making a few flights on Turkish and Star partners over the coming months.
If that amount of activity seems unlikely, put off applying till you're sure you will make the trips.
And there's not much point in seeking a match if you don't intend making a few flights on Turkish and Star partners over the coming months.
If that amount of activity seems unlikely, put off applying till you're sure you will make the trips.
Oct 7, 2016, 2:03 am
#230
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Oct 7, 2016, 2:50 am
#231
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
The wording from the challenge is: ...As of start date of elite membership within 4 months trial period one international Turkish Airlines flight should be realised for extending your card validity date to 1 year...
Oct 7, 2016, 4:26 am
#232
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
But it would make sense that it's a revenue ticket because it needs you be credited to the Miles&Smiles account. You never earn miles from an award ticket.
Oct 7, 2016, 6:33 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
I am sure you are right - the purpose behind the challenge must be to encourage more business for TK in return for fast-track status for the (potential) passenger.
Oct 11, 2016, 12:56 am
#234
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
It seems that they dont match anyone anymore. I applied for a status match a week ago, but they denied. I have Miles&More Senator status so I dont know what happened but they simply refused it.
Oct 11, 2016, 3:41 am
#235
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
Oct 11, 2016, 4:13 am
#236
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Oct 11, 2016, 4:53 am
#237
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 747
Oct 15, 2016, 11:02 am
#238
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BCN/SIN
Programs: SEN**, Ex TK Elite+, Ex IB Sapphire, Hyatt Gold, Bonvoy, Meliá Platinum
Posts: 650
I applied for status match on TK 2,5 years ago and after I sent them the docs, they never replied, but later I saw that my card was actually upgraded to Elite.
I am SEN, so they did match it.
This year I applied again, but to different carriers. Almost all of them denied directly my request.
However CX said they would consider, but asked too much evidence + future travels!
QR offered one level lower than the one held now with another alliance.
So I think nobody status match anymore, they all want you to fly and spend with them on the first place!
I am SEN, so they did match it.
This year I applied again, but to different carriers. Almost all of them denied directly my request.
However CX said they would consider, but asked too much evidence + future travels!
QR offered one level lower than the one held now with another alliance.
So I think nobody status match anymore, they all want you to fly and spend with them on the first place!
Oct 15, 2016, 1:57 pm
#239
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
I applied for status match on TK 2,5 years ago and after I sent them the docs, they never replied, but later I saw that my card was actually upgraded to Elite.
I am SEN, so they did match it.
This year I applied again, but to different carriers. Almost all of them denied directly my request.
However CX said they would consider, but asked too much evidence + future travels!
QR offered one level lower than the one held now with another alliance.
So I think nobody status match anymore, they all want you to fly and spend with them on the first place!
I am SEN, so they did match it.
This year I applied again, but to different carriers. Almost all of them denied directly my request.
However CX said they would consider, but asked too much evidence + future travels!
QR offered one level lower than the one held now with another alliance.
So I think nobody status match anymore, they all want you to fly and spend with them on the first place!
USA members must complete one long haul flight for the match.
Oct 16, 2016, 12:55 pm
#240
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Central Europe
Programs: DL GM, TK Elite+, ITA Executive, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Silver, Accor Plat
Posts: 196
I completed the challenge in the Spring and have been extended to the remainder of the first year 26/12/2016. I have, currently, 7682 status points. A trip to Ukraine in October should get me to 15,000 when under the challenge I should get extended to 26/12/2017. But a trip to BKK in November might get me to 25,000 which, I hope, will extend me to 2019.
Will the 15K miles by 02/17 extend my status till 06/18 instantly? And if yes, will making 25K extend status for another two years (till 06/20)?
I suspect this will not be the case, and instead the status extension till 06/18 only takes place at 06/17.
Can somebody shed light on this? The 06/20 sounds too good to be true; and i might choose to credit some flights elsewhere.
Thanks a lot.