7 AIRLINES THAT LET YOU TRANSFER YOUR FREQUENT FLYER STATUS FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM

Since the dawn of the first airline loyalty program, when Texas International Airlines created its frequent flyer miles program in 1979, airlines have been rewarding customers with extra perks and benefits for flying with them frequently. Naturally, these customers were more inclined to stick with one or two carriers, providing a steady stream of revenue for the airlines and creating a reciprocal relationship that has benefitted both sides.

However, as airlines' networks evolved, including the additions of codeshare agreements and, in the 1990s, alliances, customers have benefitted even more, acquiring miles even when not flying on the carrier whose loyalty program they are participating in. The evolution continued and has allowed passengers to acquire miles while not even flying at all, with carriers partnering with various on-ground companies, ranging from hotels to e-commerce companies, to offer customers an even more comprehensive range of benefits.

Still, sometimes, for one reason or another, customers want to switch between their airlines of choice. Might it be disappointment in service or a move across a continent or the world where their airline might not be flying at all, resulting in an awkward situation, as high-status passengers are left with little choice but to accumulate status with another carrier?

However, there are solutions to these problems, including status matching with various airlines. While not every company offers this benefit, some do, allowing customers to retain a superior passenger experience while switching between their airlines of choice.

Royal Air Maroc Status Match

Airline alliance: oneworld

Application fees:

$150 for Silver

$450 for Gold

$1000 for Platinum Lite

$1500 for Platinum Standard

Royal Air Maroc, a Morocco-based airline, offers loyalty program members a chance to gain status with the airline quickly. While the initial application will last six months, the carrier enables passengers to extend their Safar Flyer status for a longer period of time.

In addition to airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, United Airlines, and others, Royal Air Maroc will also match your hotel status. The hotels involved in the promotion include Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and others.

Virgin Atlantic status match

Airline alliance: SkyTeam

Additional requirements:

• Member of the Flying Club
• Future revenue/redemption flight booked

If you find yourself often flying through London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or Manchester Airport (MAN), switching to Virgin Atlantic's loyalty program, Flying Club, might be enticing for you. The two pre-requirements are that a passenger must be a member of the Flying Club, which is as easy as filling out an application, and to have a future revenue or redemption flight booked with either Virgin Atlantic or a partner airline with a VS flight number.

Virgin Atlantic offers to become either a Flying Club Gold member or a Flying Club Silver, its highest and second-highest tiers, respectively, by matching status from American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, El Al, Emirates, Iberia, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airlines, and United Airlines.

Royal Club Status Match

Airline alliance: oneworld

Application fees:

• $49 for Silver Jay
• $149 for Gold Sparrow

The second oneworld airline on the list, Royal Jordanian, also status matches various airlines. However, unlike Royal Air Maroc, customers cannot join the Royal Club with their hotel status, with Royal Jordanian also limiting the countries from which passengers can apply for a status match.

Nevertheless, if you often fly into the Middle East, Royal Jordanian can match your status from such large airlines as Air France, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Saudia, SAS, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and other, smaller carriers.

Flying Blue Status Match

Airline alliance: SkyTeam

Application fees:

• €79 ($85) for Silver
• €199 ($215) for Gold
• €399 ($432) for Platinum

The Air France-KLM perhaps offers one of the most extensive networks for travelers flying into Europe often, which is why status matching with Flying Blue could be an attractive offer for certain passengers that fly into such hubs as Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) or Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG).

Similar to Royal Air Maroc and Royal Jordanian, Air France-KLM matches the status of certain airlines only, including all International Airlines Group (IAG) carriers, Air Canada, American Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and others.

Etihad Guest Status Match

Airline alliance: None

Application fees:

• $59 for Silver
• $99 for Gold

Etihad Airways has become one of the world's largest super connectors, utilizing the geographical position of its Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) hub to provide one-stop flights between numerous destinations on several continents.

One difference between Etihad Guest's status match program and others is that there are a lot more Asian airline brands present, including AirAsia, Air India, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Vistara, which might not be on other carriers' status match programs.

AAdvantage status match

Airline alliance: oneworld

Status match only with:

• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines

Unique to the list, American Airlines' AAdvantage loyalty program only matches the status of the other two large legacy carriers in the US: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The limited-time promotion enables passengers to switch from Platinum Medallion and Premier Platinum to AAdvantage Platinum Pro or from Diamond Medallion or Premier 1K to AAdvantage Executive Platinum.

However, to maintain their status after the initial four-month period, passengers will have to earn a certain number of loyalty points, including 67,000 points, to keep the benefits of AAdvantage Executive Platinum, the highest level of AAdvantage.

United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status Match

Airline alliance: Star Alliance

Status match only with:

• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Delta Ari Lines
• British Airways
• JetBlue Airways
• Qantas
• Southwest Airlines

Unlike American Airlines, United Airlines also offers to match status with numerous other US-based airlines, as well as large international carriers such as British Airways and Qantas, both of which belong to the oneworld alliance, expanding your status-matching options.

As such, if you are looking to move from oneworld-associated carriers to United Airlines and Star Alliance members, this might be your chance. However, similar to American Airlines, United Airlines also offers a limited-time-only offer, with conditions attached to keep status in the long term.

2024-03-27T15:11:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd