Last edit by: Jaenks
Update January 2020:
According to statusmatcher.com TK will only issue the the status match challenge to those holders of the following status:
Oneworld Emerald
Finnair Plus Gold (Oneworld Sapphire)
Skyteam Elite Plus
Emirates Gold/Platinum
Etihad Gold
Oman Air Gold
Other Gold Card holders including *G are out of luck.
Please report your experience in this thread and note the useful information in the Wiki below.
It appears that status matches are only granted once per lifetime, so think carefully before requesting if you might not re-qualify.
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!
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 (note list of matchable status above)
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:
04/11/2017 - CoweyB. TK has clarified that once a status match is given any miles collected during the first year of the match do not count for renewal - despite the email suggesting that 25,000 miles collected in the first year will secure renewal. TK has said that it is necessary to collect 37,500 in the second year to maintain Elite status for a further two years once the period of the status match ends.
According to statusmatcher.com TK will only issue the the status match challenge to those holders of the following status:
Oneworld Emerald
Finnair Plus Gold (Oneworld Sapphire)
Skyteam Elite Plus
Emirates Gold/Platinum
Etihad Gold
Oman Air Gold
Other Gold Card holders including *G are out of luck.
Please report your experience in this thread and note the useful information in the Wiki below.
It appears that status matches are only granted once per lifetime, so think carefully before requesting if you might not re-qualify.
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!
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 (note list of matchable status above)
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 (2017 onwards)
#691
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BGW & CPH
Programs: Eurobonus Lifetime Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Turkish Airlines Elite
Posts: 321
#692
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
Hi all,
To extend the trial period you need to fly at least one international flight with TK.
Will it be any issue if I booked the TK ticket through an OTA and just add the FFP to it instead of booking directly through TK?
To extend the trial period you need to fly at least one international flight with TK.
Will it be any issue if I booked the TK ticket through an OTA and just add the FFP to it instead of booking directly through TK?
#693
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
Where you purchased the ticket is irrelevant for this case.
#694
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
Is the following the correct summary of the status match and extension?
1) Matched 09/2022
2) fly one intl TK flight within 4 months and gets extended to 09/2023
3) fly 15,000 TK flight(s) before 09/2023 gets extended to 09/2024
4) for renewal of Elite, need to fly 40,000 (TK/*A) from 09/2023 to 09/2024 to get extended to 09/2026
5) [back to standard qualification] fly 25,000 (TK/*A) between 09/2024 and 09/2025 to get extended to 09/2028 -or- 37,500 (TK/*A) between 09/2024 and 09/2026 to get extended to 09/2028
so the real benefit of the match is *G during the first few months and only good if you have TK 15,000 lined up, one really has to hit 40,000 anyways and the first 15,000 TK flight don't count.
1) Matched 09/2022
2) fly one intl TK flight within 4 months and gets extended to 09/2023
3) fly 15,000 TK flight(s) before 09/2023 gets extended to 09/2024
4) for renewal of Elite, need to fly 40,000 (TK/*A) from 09/2023 to 09/2024 to get extended to 09/2026
5) [back to standard qualification] fly 25,000 (TK/*A) between 09/2024 and 09/2025 to get extended to 09/2028 -or- 37,500 (TK/*A) between 09/2024 and 09/2026 to get extended to 09/2028
so the real benefit of the match is *G during the first few months and only good if you have TK 15,000 lined up, one really has to hit 40,000 anyways and the first 15,000 TK flight don't count.
#695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,649
How long does it typically take TK to approve the match?
I submitted my request today (attempting to match Delta Diamond status that expires in 2024) & my first TK flight is on the 9th of October.
Is 20 days enough time or am I out of luck?
I submitted my request today (attempting to match Delta Diamond status that expires in 2024) & my first TK flight is on the 9th of October.
Is 20 days enough time or am I out of luck?
#697
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
#698
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
Is this based on your personal experience? Im debating whether to call or use the feedback system but when you update your previous reference number it seems to generate another reference so Im not sure if Im just creating more confusion. They requested my passport details a few days back (and seemingly approved the match) but no update after submitting and my flights are in a couple days so I'd really like to ask them if they can update my status by tomorrow
#699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,649
Is this based on your personal experience? Im debating whether to call or use the feedback system but when you update your previous reference number it seems to generate another reference so Im not sure if Im just creating more confusion. They requested my passport details a few days back (and seemingly approved the match) but no update after submitting and my flights are in a couple days so I'd really like to ask them if they can update my status by tomorrow
#700
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
#701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,649
#702
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
Just as an update, I did call and mention that my match was approved and I submitted the passport details and was traveling within 48hours. Very helpful agent created an urgent request and in about 20ish hours my status was updated. She did ask for the ticket number to confirm urgency
#704
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
Just as an update, I did call and mention that my match was approved and I submitted the passport details and was traveling within 48hours. Very helpful agent created an urgent request and in about 20ish hours my status was updated. She did ask for the ticket number to confirm urgency
#705
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BGW & CPH
Programs: Eurobonus Lifetime Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Turkish Airlines Elite
Posts: 321
I wondered about that as well. Seems like the general approach is never to miss an opportunity to obtain personal information from travellers. Same in IST airport where the ‘easiest’ way to get a Wi-Fi login is to swipe your passport and you have to hand it over just to buy a chocolate bar…