SkyTeam Status Match - ITA Airways

[Flyfrequently]

A German Santa delivered a slightly delayed Christmas present that I was not expecting!

Shiny Gold Senator card and two bag tags!
View attachment 487512

Having read the loyalty lobby article posted by @VPS I followed the links to do a status match before ITA Volare winds up at the end of this month.
Paid the USD99 (which wasn't mentioned in the article) as I plan on flying SQ and Garuda later this year.
Also found an email where Garuda are now partnered with Krisflyer - hopefully this pans out and haven't wasted my 99 bucks @SYD- my next post might be in Travel Mistake thread

 

[DAC1]

Having read the loyalty lobby article posted by @VPS I followed the links to do a status match before ITA Volare winds up at the end of this month.
Paid the USD99 (which wasn't mentioned in the article) as I plan on flying SQ and Garuda later this year.
Also found an email where Garuda are now partnered with Krisflyer - hopefully this pans out and haven't wasted my 99 bucks @SYD- my next post might be in Travel Mistake thread

Garuda is not in Star Alliance.

 

[SYD]

Having read the loyalty lobby article posted by @VPS I followed the links to do a status match before ITA Volare winds up at the end of this month.
Paid the USD99 (which wasn't mentioned in the article) as I plan on flying SQ and Garuda later this year.
Also found an email where Garuda are now partnered with Krisflyer - hopefully this pans out and haven't wasted my 99 bucks @SYD- my next post might be in Travel Mistake thread

There was no fee when I did the SM.

There was a slight issue about excluding Oz residents but some of us teleported elsewhere and back.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Garuda is not in Star Alliance.

Understand, and don't necessarily expect any benefits @DAC1.
It is a partnership of sorts

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/corporate/newsroom/press-release/2025/july-september/garuda-indonesia-and-singapore-airlines-deepen-commercial-cooper/#:~:text=The%20partnership%20offers%20customers:%20*%20**Greater%20convenience**,for:%20*%20GarudaMiles%20members%20*%20KrisFlyer%20members

 

[Flyfrequently]

There was no fee when I did the SM.

There was a slight issue about excluding Oz residents but some of us teleported elsewhere and back.

This time it includes all countries @SYD but with the fee.
If I've done my dough, so be it

 

[Flyfrequently]

But Garuda is in SkyTeam as ITA was (sort of).

Yes, bit of a bummer seeing they encouraged the status match with OW.
ITA formerly ceased to be Skyteam Feb/April 2025 @serfty

https://www.skyteam.com/en/about/press-releases/press-releases-2025/ita-airways-exits-skyteam-alliance

 

[DAC1]

Understand, and don't necessarily expect any benefits @DAC1.
It is a partnership of sorts

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/corporate/newsroom/press-release/2025/july-september/garuda-indonesia-and-singapore-airlines-deepen-commercial-cooper/#:~:text=The%20partnership%20offers%20customers:%20*%20**Greater%20convenience**,for:%20*%20GarudaMiles%20members%20*%20KrisFlyer%20members

I probably don’t understand the relevance of the SQ/GA partnership to holding status with LH/LX.

 

[SYD]

For those who have status with ITA, last chance to get the free SM to LH and A*G or A*S (there’s also a paid SM from BA or IB).

https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/03/22/last-call-lufthansa-milesmore-free-match-for-ita-airways-volare-memebrs-status-valid-through-february-2027/

According to the Ts&Cs, there’s still some geographical limitations on eligible countries on the LH membership (either existing or creating a new account). Post #285 is insightful .

“Applicants from the following countries may apply

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Kenya, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, India, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, United Kingdom, USA, Poland, South Africa,”

Up thread, others reported being rejected because they didn’t have any activity on their account. A couple of us lucked in with some free points downloading the ITA App.

I don’t know if it possible to buy a couple points to show activity? I also don’t know what happens to any points in our accounts post 01 Apr?

 

[Happy Dude]

I applied for the LH match yesterday and was rejected within a couple of hours. I joined Miles & More with a US address and changed my Volare address to the same.

I didn't have any points in the account even though I downloaded the app last year and I'd agree that is the most compelling reason (although one could have drained the account ahead of the program closure).

Here is the list of reasons, a few of which could legit apply:

Reasons why we are unable to approve on this occasion may include:

- We asked for more information and have not heard from you so your application was automatically declined.
- We are processing a refund.
- We could not validate your loyalty status.
- We could not validate any existing points/miles activity on your account.
- We could not validate that your status was obtained through travel activity.
- You are applying from an ineligible country for this offer.
- The loyalty account used in your application has previously completed a status match and is now ineligible for new applications.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Be interesting to see if I get the SM @SYD @Happy Dude seeing I paid and reside in Australia- didn't think outside the square on that one
The USD99 isn't showing up as pending on my Amex yet 24 hours later.

 

[SYD]

Be interesting to see if I get the SM @SYD @Happy Dude seeing I paid and reside in Australia- didn't think outside the square on that one
The USD99 isn't showing up as pending on my Amex yet 24 hours later.

I successfully did the ITA->LH SM back in October.

Physical card and tags arrived in December (posted upthread). It’s important to “move back” to Australia after the SM is approved….

I’ve even managed to use the LH status flying SQ whY on a VA redemption.

 

[Happy Dude]

I successfully did the ITA->LH SM back in October.

Physical card and tags arrived in December (posted upthread). It’s important to “move back” to Australia after the SM is approved….

I’ve even managed to use the LH status flying SQ whY on a VA redemption.

I was going to use a pic of the card but it shows the expiry date as 12/25. Instead I used a screenshot of my Volare account as it showed expiry as 03/26 but also clearly shows the points balance being 0. Damned if you do, damned if you don't perhaps, but hindsight suggests the card pic may have been the way the go.