Are you about to lose elite status? Here are all the Status Match possibilities active right now

At the end of the year, a large number of users Will lose status in several loyalty programs and the reason is that With 2022, subsidies and aid ceased of airline loyalty systems and beyond. So it's back to the old way of gaining status: fly a lot and/or fly in premium classes.

Having status, we have written repeatedly at TFC, has value if you travel often and not on business. The reason is that by having status on the ground you can be treated even better than business passengers, so when you travel in economy this translates into less stress, greater comfort and often significant financial savings as well.

Perks such as upgrades, lounge access, early boarding, free seat selection and exemption from baggage fees are some of the benefits of status holders.

The practice of status match right now is very interesting for all those who are in the process of losing a status and by taking advantage of this offer they can create for themselves, with little effort, a parachute into a different company.

With this article I try to summarize what to do and not to do when applying for "status matching," because there are pros and cons to consider here as well.

What is status match

When requesting a status match, an airline will assign you an equivalent or lower status level based on the status you have already achieved with a competing carrier's program. The corresponding airline will ask for proof of your status. Usually through a photo of your frequent flyer card and a mileage statement showing your recent activity.

If you are thinking of taking your cousin's card and "photoshopping" it I would advise against it. True, the companies do not have the ability to see the details, but the FF code and status are subject to sharing between carriers, so the risk of getting banned for life from a program for such a "sneak" is very high and makes no sense.

Each company when it launches a challenge, or challenge, to gain status has different rules. There are proposals where nothing is required, others where flights are required, and still others where you are asked to pay a fee or just have a flight scheduled, even one that is already booked.

The status received can last a few months up to a year, depending on the rules of the offer. Always read (and re-read) the challenge rules well. You may be required to fly within a certain period, only on certain routes or in premium classes, the details make a difference.

Last but not least, the offer could be specifically targeted to those who have a certain status, reside in a certain nation, and so on.

Recommendations before applying for status match

• Often these offers are "once in a lifetime", this means that there is no point in applying for it "just in case." If you don't plan to fly with that particular airline anytime soon, it doesn't make sense to have the status just to have the card. Also because the card is now digital for almost all programs. Exceptions are some airlines-for example, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which allow you to apply for MS once every five and three years, respectively.
• Generally you cannot match the status of another airline in the same alliance. There are exceptions to this but they are very rare.
• It is not excluded that triangulations can be made, i.e., if you do not have the ability to get the MS from the desired company, sometimes you just need to go through a third party company to get the desired result.
• The period is important. The challenge should be activated when you plan to fly or buy a ticket, so you will be able to get the benefits of the status. Depending on the rules of the loyalty program If you apply for the new card at the exact time you may be able to get even more than 12 months for free.
• So you don't miss out on opportunities sign up for our newsletter To receive any new possibilities in your mailbox

Enough chitchat, it is time to see what possibilities are active at this time.

ITA Airways

In the past 12 months, ITA has launched as many as three status match campaigns and all have enabled them to obtain status in the Volare program. the first to date has been the most generous because Gave all members status until January 2024, while the other two did not provide this opportunity.

There are no active campaigns at this time, while all obtained cards will expire if you have failed to renew them on January 31, 2023.

Delta

There are a total of 15 recognized loyalty programs for this status match proposal. For us in Italy, those most interested in this offer are Lufthansa Miles&More or British Airways Executive Club card holders.

Once the request is approved, you are automatically enrolled in the challenge and matched to Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion status based on the elite level you hold with the other airline. The free match status will last for 3 months, starting 24 hours after receiving the confirmation email. A great many TFC readers have written to us that they participated and obtained this card easily.

Emirates

The offer includes., for those who qualify, The achievement of the Gold level in Emirates' Skywards program. The one that allows you to have access to lounges, get discounts on award tickets, and many other little vices that can make travel better, even and especially when traveling in economy.

The offer is not only aimed at those with status in the Millemiglia program, but to all residents of Italy who hold status in 5 European airlines:

• Alitalia - MilleMiglia
• Lufthansa -  Miles&More
• British Airways -  Executive Club
• Air France/KLM - Flying Blue

There is no challenge to participate, there is only to pay 49€ and, within 72 hours, relative status will be obtained.

Hilton

The well-known hotel chain also has a status match proposal that is practically always active.

The challenge is super simple: you request match status from Hilton by sending details of your loyalty card from a competing group, along with a bank statement for the past 12 months.

If the request is accepted, the corresponding level in the loyalty program will be assigned for 90 days. From then on, the challenge will need to be completed: stay 7 nights to obtain the Gold level e 12 nights to obtain the Platinum level. The card will be valid until March 31, 2024.

MSC

Not only airlines and hotel chains, but also cruise lines offer this attractive option to jump on board with status.

The procedure is very simple and, registry aside, the only proof asked for is an image of the program card whose status you hold. In this case MSC does not ask anything special of the submitter. It is simple and the procedure takes only a few minutes.

The interesting thing is. status is offered to all cardholders in hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriott, Accor, IHG and shipping companies such as Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises and many others.

Qatar & Accor

This is an opportunity daughter of a partnership between the airline Qatar and the hotel chain Accor.

Status benefits for Qatar Airways Privilege Club members.

• After the first stay in the hotel, Privilege Club Gold members will receive an upgrade to Silver status from ALL, receiving additional benefits such as free welcome drinks, priority desks, late check-out and more
• Privilege Club Platinum members will receive an upgrade to Gold status from ALL, as well as free room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out and more

Status benefits for members of ALL - Accor Live Limitless

• Gold members of ALL will receive an upgrade to Privilege Club Silver membership., getting priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, lounge access and more.
• Platinum members of ALL will receive an upgrade to Privilege Club Gold membership, level that gives priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, free seat selection, lounge access, reception service and more
• Diamond members of ALL will receive an upgrade to Privilege Club Platinum membership, the highest level of the program, which will allow members to enjoy more benefits of extra baggage allowance, free seat selection and lounge access, including access to the Al Safwa First Lounge. At Hamad International Airport when traveling in business class with Qatar Airways

United

There are 38 loyalty programs eligible to participate in United's status match, among them are ITA Airways and all the major European and global frequent flyers, obviously not from Star Alliance carriers. There is Flying Blue of Air France and KLM, the Executive Club of British Airways, but there are also Iberia, Finnair, Qatar, And many others.

To participate you must, of course, be enrolled in MileagePlus, United's frequent flyer program, and hold the elite level in one of the programs participating in the challenge. Here are some examples of the challenge matches.

Expired offers

In recent months we have seen dozens of challenges from those of hotel chains like IHG, which has really pushed its new loyalty program hard, to those of airlines like Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Royal Air Maroc, and Finnair. Of course, new offers could pop up every day, and for that we have a Dedicated page listing all news on this topic.

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