Status match

[Roflco]

Hi guys,

I'm a virgin gold member looking to book bne - Cancun via lax in April. Currently United are going to be about $400 cheaper per person in Y on the 787 via Syd.

Anyone successfully status matched virgin gold to United gold? Would be handy for the lounge access in Syd / lax

There is currently a promo, but not sure if it would be us only. I can't post a link, but you can find the page on uniteds web site if you google

MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge

 

[SYD]

Unlikely to get a direct status match. You usually have to fly a certain number of miles within 90 days as part of their Status Match Challenge.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/ap...ons/registrationDetails.aspx?promoCode=TB8230

However, any other *A Gold will get you lounge access if you can find a suitable status match.

 

[Roflco]

That's the promo i was looking at. Am I right in that during the challenge you get gold status for 90 days. Then you need to fly 12500 miles to keep the status after the 90. Is that right?

If so, I'd get the lounge access for my upcoming Bne -> lax return trip, and then fly the required 12500 on that trip to keep the status next year

 

[SYD]

I believe that is correct. It does say you may not get all *A Gold benefits from some partners - whatever that actually fully means. I'm sure there are threads on that here or over a FlyerTalk.

if you're successful, as minimum you should get business checkin and lounge access when flying UA international and connections.

 

[jackthomas]

How about you try and status match to Avianca Amigo Brazil? They'll do a straight status match without the challenge and you'll receive all *A gold benefits.

 

[SYD]

How about you try and status match to Avianca Amigo Brazil? They'll do a straight status match without the challenge and you'll receive all *A gold benefits.

Is that still running? I think Turkish might still be going?

However, an advantage of doing the UA SM should be access to Y+ seats (extra legroom) at time of booking. Perhaps someone with recent experience can confirm that perk opens during a status challenge?

Similarly, I don't know if other *A Gold can access those seats?

Another thing to consider, if you're not fussed about collecting UA miles / status then direct the miles to SQ for later use - including converting to VA miles.

 

[jackthomas]

The Avianca promotion period has ended but online reports show people are still getting matched. The TK match has changed and is now a challenge to fly TK within 4 months to stay gold

 

[jackthomas]

It's important to remember also that UA Gold doesn't give lounge access domestically (not sure about internationl) but an international star alliance gold card will get you UA Domestic lounge access

 

[Roflco]

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't ua gold equivalent to star alliance gold?? So you could use that for domestic lounge access?

 

[SYD]

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't ua gold equivalent to star alliance gold?? So you could use that for domestic lounge access?

Yes: UA Gold = *A Gold

But most US airlines have paid lounge membership and don't provide access to their own elites like VA and QF.

If you're flying internationally, you should have access to the lounge on domestic sectors connecting to/from an international flight.

If you flying solely US domestic, you won't get lounge access with UA Gold. Probably need to check the rules for flights to Mexico as well.

 

[jackthomas]

As Syd says, UA Gold is *A Gold yes, but when flying United domestically, they don't give their own golds lounge access, which is why a lot of my US living friends maintain an international *AG in order to gain access without paying the United Club fee.