QF Platinum status match to Star Alliance Gold?

[Kiwifruit]

In the past where possible I have tried to consolidate my travels on One World carriers to retain status. I now have a number of flights coming up on Star Alliance carriers in the next six months, some of which are in economy and if possible would love have lounge access. Can anyone recommend the best status match offered by a Star Alliance carrier?

 

[Mattg]

You have two fairly simple options here, either the United status match or a Turkish Airlines status match. That gives you 3 or 4 months of Star Alliance status, respectively.

United's 2022 MileagePlus Status Match Challenge

United Airlines has launched a new MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge for 2022, offering 120 days of complimentary Star Alliance status and a

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a shortcut to Star Alliance Gold status?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Are any of your upcoming flights on United or Turkish? If so, you might be able to extend the status for another year.

My personal pick would be Turkish Airlines as you only need 1 TK flight to extend the status to a year. It's also a better program IMHO (much easy to requalify for Star Alliance Gold than United). And your QF Platinum will match to TK's Gold equivalent tier - with United you'd match to Platinum which makes it harder to retain.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, United offers a match:

AusBT had a recent artivcle:

Executive Traveller formerly AusBT | Travel News, Reviews & More

The global destination for business travellers and premium frequent flyers: news, reviews and expert guides to help you travel better.

www.ausbt.com.au

I can confirm that the match still exists for QF/VA etc despite the initial united.com/statusmatch page only referring to AA and DL. Onc eyou pass through to the page to submit for a Status Match you can follow the instructions in the article.

 

[Kiwifruit]

Thanks guys that's just the advice I was looking for.

The Star Alliance carriers I'll be flying in economy are domestic flights on Air New Zealand, AIr Canada and United so I don't have any expectation of retaining Star Alliance Gold beyond the status match, rather I'm just doing it as a means of gaining lounge access and any other benefits Star Alliance status may give me such as preference in seat allocation etc.

 

[Ade]

You have two fairly simple options here, either the United status match or a Turkish Airlines status match. That gives you 3 or 4 months of Star Alliance status, respectively.

United's 2022 MileagePlus Status Match Challenge

United Airlines has launched a new MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge for 2022, offering 120 days of complimentary Star Alliance status and a

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a shortcut to Star Alliance Gold status?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Are any of your upcoming flights on United or Turkish? If so, you might be able to extend the status for another year.

My personal pick would be Turkish Airlines as you only need 1 TK flight to extend the status to a year. It's also a better program IMHO (much easy to requalify for Star Alliance Gold than United). And your QF Platinum will match to TK's Gold equivalent tier - with United you'd match to Platinum which makes it harder to retain.

If I have to choose, I'd choose TK over UA primarily because with UA, all the PQM's have to be attained on UA metal. However, in the case of TK, with just one flight on TK and as long as you can fly *A partners and credit to TK FF account, you should be fine. Also most of my travels are to Asia and India, nothing to USA so far

However, if you're travels are concentrated in the USA region, UA might make sense.

But TK wins for me

 

[Ade]

Thanks guys that's just the advice I was looking for.

The Star Alliance carriers I'll be flying in economy are domestic flights on Air New Zealand, AIr Canada and United so I don't have any expectation of retaining Star Alliance Gold beyond the status match, rather I'm just doing it as a means of gaining lounge access and any other benefits Star Alliance status may give me such as preference in seat allocation etc.

Saw your post after hitting "Post Reply" on my response

 

[RichardMEL]

Prob go for TK then. If you have domestic flights on UA then Premier Gold (*G) status will not get you into the lounges on those sectors(only int or connecting to/from int same day). The TK*G would though.

 

[Kiwifruit]

Thanks Richard, I wasn't aware of the lounge restriction for UA premier gold so it looks like TK may be the better option

 

[FL360]

but the thing to remember is that, for most Australians *A Gold means you will somehow use the lounge access in SIN, and the *A Gold lounge there in SIN (for Y travelers) is sub-par - don't even have shower !?

SIA treat their J class pax very differently unlike QF who dumps everyone into their SYD INTL J lounge.

 

[Kiwifruit]

Seems that SQ in SIN and QR in DOH both adopt the same approach in restricting access to their better lounges to those passengers actually flying in their own premium classes.

Not an approach, I favour as if this model spreads it diminishes the value of having status.

 

[Longtoo]

hi everyone,
I applied for a status match with Turkish Airline, sending them a picture my QF platinum, screen shot of my QF profile. Few minutes later, an email came asking me to register to Miles & Smile and a copy of my passport. sent to them. then few minutes later, i have the following email. I am not familiar with A* system. Have they just made me A* Gold for 2 years?
TIA

Dear xx_,
Since you have reached a total of 40000 Status Miles within the past 12 months, your card level has been upgraded to Elite Card.
If you reach a total of 45000 Status Miles during your membership period for 2 years, your Elite card will be extended for 2 more years.
if you reach 80000 Status Miles by 28/09/2019 your membership card will be upgraded to Elite Plus Card.
For detailed information, you can contact our call centre (+90 850 333 849) or visit our website.
Best Regards,​

Miles&Smiles

 

[Longtoo]

Just did a bit of exploring in my Miles & Smiles account. My Elite status will expire on 28 Sep if i don't meet the qualification for extension.

 

[Mattg]

Just did a bit of exploring in my Miles & Smiles account. My Elite status will expire on 28 Sep if i don't meet the qualification for extension.

Looks like they sent you the standard message given when somebody reaches Elite for the first time, but the status challenge conditions still apply.

Got any plans to fly TK in the next 4 months?

Also, it's interesting that they say you need to earn 45,000 status miles in 2 years to extend the status. I thought the requirement was lower for non-Turkish residents.

 

[Longtoo]

Got any plans to fly TK in the next 4 months?

I will have some *A flights in the US. A TK flight in Sep is possible but not confirmed at this stage.

 

[Ade]

Also, it's interesting that they say you need to earn 45,000 status miles in 2 years to extend the status. I thought the requirement was lower for non-Turkish residents.

I thought it was 30,000 miles for non Turkish residents, isn’t it ?

 

[Longtoo]

An email from TK came this morning. I am surprised with how quick they are. Otherwise, i would ask for status match, just before my travel to maximize the chance of requalifying.

---
The Elite card trial period is 4 months. Subsequent to the inclusion of an international flight you will perform with Turkish Airlines within the first 4 months following the beginning of your Elite membership in your account, your trial period will be extended for 8 months and regarded valid for one year in total. If you earn 15,000 status miles in Turkish Airlines international line flights in the first year of your Elite membership, your membership will be extended for one year, and it will be valid for two years in total.

 

[Ade]

An email from TK came this morning. I am surprised with how quick they are. Otherwise, i would ask for status match, just before my travel to maximize the chance of requalifying.

---
The Elite card trial period is 4 months. Subsequent to the inclusion of an international flight you will perform with Turkish Airlines within the first 4 months following the beginning of your Elite membership in your account, your trial period will be extended for 8 months and regarded valid for one year in total. If you earn 15,000 status miles in Turkish Airlines international line flights in the first year of your Elite membership, your membership will be extended for one year, and it will be valid for two years in total.

So that means after the successful status match/challenge email is received - the challenge period is 4 months from the date of receiving the email and is expected to finish at least 15,000 miles on international TK to retain the status for one year.

So effectively, all one has to do is get a status challenge and perform 1 international flight on TK and get 15000 miles.

Is my understanding right?

 

[Longtoo]

Step 1: One international TK flight within the first 4 months to extend the status to 1 year.
Step 2: accure 15,000 status miles from international TK flights wihitn the first 1 year to have another year of extension.
TK status is normally reassessed every 2 years.

 

[Ade]

Step 1: One international TK flight within the first 4 months to extend the status to 1 year.
Step 2: accure 15,000 status miles from international TK flights wihitn the first 1 year to have another year of extension.
TK status is normally reassessed every 2 years.

Wow. thank you and that definitely sounds achievable

 

[k_sheep]

Now, can I be bothered status matching just to save the 2xUSD30 bag fee for our short United flights in August? Hmm