Status Match Madness

[Matt_01]

On the back of @Mattg article I thought I would start a thread about status matches. With 12+ months of limited flying and hotel stays how is you status travelling? I have not checked as to the exact dates and which airlines started offering status matches or challenges and I may have missed a few but IIRC the following have been available:

• QF – initial SG and 100 SC to retain
• VA – initial SG and 100 SC to retain
• QR – status match
• NZ – initial SG and 100 SC to retain
• QH – status match
• TK ?
• UA ?
• Not sure which hotel programs have been offering matches or challenges

As these offers appeared I started throwing my hat in the ring to see what would happen and more importantly increase my social DYKWIA standings. So with bugger all flying I am currently QF P1, VA WP, SQ*G, QR WP, NZ*G and QH First. I had the first 3 pre covid later 3 were matched and will most likely never be used.

So what offers have you taken advantage of.

 

[RooFlyer]

As QF Plat, I haven't taken advantage of any, as they mostly seem to have 3-6 month windows, which isn't realistic for me. I wouldn't bother with VA status, as although I used to fly them a lot domestically, the current situation sees me hugging mummy Qantas tighter.

 

[AIRwin]

I wouldn't bother with VA status, as although I used to fly them a lot domestically, the current situation sees me hugging mummy Qantas tighter.

Snug in the pouch...

 

[muppet]

As a QF WP, I haven't bothered with any of the status matches either.

Seems like an unnecessary handing over of my data for no reason other than a lifetime of spam emails and a plastic card I cannot use.

 

[sudoer]

Before the pandemic I held QF WP, VA PS, HH Gold (through Visa Signature fast track, then extended during covid), ALL Gold (through Ibis Business) and over the past 12 months I've taken advantage of:

IHG Platinum fast track - Stay 2 nights for Gold or 5 for Plat over 90 days. Already had a four night stay booked when this dropped, so picked up the 5th on an overnight work trip. Gimme.

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum fast track - Stay 15 nights in 90 days for Plat. Didn't think I would hit the target, but I had multiple work trips to Canberra lined up and this was a good enough reason to stay at Midnight Hotel where I got the Plat benefits during the challenge - scored a few upgrades, early check-ins/late check-outs, and a very solid daily breakfast. In the end I got to 14 nights through work, so I booked a 1 night mattress run at Marriott Courtyard Macquarie Park for $80 to secure Plat and made good use of it earlier this year at W Brisbane.

Accor Plus fast track - eligible due to membership through Amex. Initially ran into issues getting Accor Plus activated as I had an Ibis Business sub on the same ALL account, Accor Plus support proactively called me and explained how to resolve the issue by canceling the Ibis sub and contacting them again. They offered to carry across my ALL Gold status from Ibis, but as I was on 24 status nights I asked them specifically to drop me back to Silver for the fast track promo. Worked as intended - first stay got the +10 status nights, second stay got the +15 nights. I'm now sitting on 55 nights and only need three more nights to hit ALL Plat this year.

VA Gold 90 day challenge - Had a few economy awards booked so was just planning to use this for 90 days rather than obtain Gold. Due to the two month extension I got up to 57 SC but didn't bother going for the 80. My review date passed last week but my status still shows Gold so who knows. Worst case, these challenges result in a soft landing to PS which at least gives me that for another year.

Starlux Cosmile match - North Asia is my most frequent international travel destination so a four-year status match to Starlux's top tier was a no brainer. I hope to try them one day if they can ride out the pandemic. They have since sent me a solid metal membership card and personalised leather bag tag which I wasn't expecting.

Edit: Not a match but I also snuck in Shangri-La Jade just before Amex partnership terminated. Expiry date March 2023!