What is status match, how it works and what benefits it brings

All airlines have their own "frequent flyer club," just as major hotel chains have their own loyalty cards. Grabbing a regular customer by stealing them from the competition is one of the main goals companies set to improve their performance.

Having the status of an airline, such as the Alitalia Winged Arrow, guarantees benefits when flying with the tricolor airline, but also when flying with partner airlines. These benefits include free choice of seats, extra baggage, priority routes and more. For example, in hotels having the status Gold by Hilton guarantees free breakfast, late check-out or even a room upgrade.

The status match practiced by an airline is to grant level recognition to a frequent flyer who usually flies with a competing airline. In this way, the customer who takes advantage of it is assured preferential treatment in the hope of finding it more often on their flights.

Is it easy to get the status match?

The first thing to know is that nowhere is it written that match status is recognized; in fact, over time it is becoming more and more difficult to obtain it.

In the world of frequent flyers, companies first ask about membership level and routes flown in the past year. For example, if a user frequently flies to the United States on British Airways and asks Air France for status, the latter might find it interesting to "steal" the passenger from its competitor by also offering similar routes. In contrast, a user who flies primarily with Alitalia on domestic or EU routes is unlikely to be a "potential customer" for the transalpine airline.

This practice is also increasingly common in the cruise world and in Italy MSC offers promo to new customers from all major global loyalty programs, not just competing companies.

It is essential to justify the application for the award, which, it should be remembered, has varying duration and requirements from company to company. Sometimes you ask to fly a minimum of routes over the year, other times you offer it only for a few months, etc.

Tap Portugal, the easy status match that gives the "Star Alliance Gold" level

Why ask for status match?

Assume that a Winged Arrow user, has a series of flights scheduled with Lufthansa. Through recognition he would gain benefits such as lounge access, extra baggage, bonus miles and so on.

Not to mention that the benefits are often extendable to the companion, so here he or she would have a much quieter and more relaxed trip without necessarily resorting to business class.

There are actual manuals that explain how to multiply privilege through status match, particularly in the world of the hotellerie.

Have you ever experienced status match? Tell us your story in the comments.

• Status match

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