Garuda SkyTeam Status Match for Qantas & Virgin Flyers

Garuda Indonesia has launched a limited-time status match promotion for Platinum frequent flyers with both Qantas and Virgin Australia. If you currently hold Platinum status with Qantas or Velocity Frequent Flyer, you could enjoy up to a year’s worth of GarudaMiles status!

The Indonesian flag carrier is one of 19 airlines making up the SkyTeam alliance, alongside other international airlines including Delta, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, KLM, Air France and Virgin Atlantic. With Garuda Indonesia status, you can enjoy benefits when flying Garuda or any of the other SkyTeam member airlines:

This promotion is running until 30 June 2024.

From 1 January until 29 February 2024, Garuda Indonesia was offering a different status match to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members. This new offer is not available to Qantas Gold members, but is available to frequent flyers holding Virgin Australia Platinum status. Garuda said it has extended its status match promotion “due to popular demand”.

Who is eligible for the GarudaMiles status match

If you currently hold Platinum status in either the Qantas or Virgin Australia frequent flyer programs, you can get your status matched for free to the Platinum tier of the GarudaMiles program. Although Qantas Platinum One status isn’t specifically listed as being eligible for this match, we assume it would also map to GarudaMiles Platinum.

According to the offer terms & conditions, Qantas status obtained through means other than flying (e.g. if your status was a gift or from another status match) is not eligible.

How the status match works

You’ll initially get three months of status with GarudaMiles. To extend your status for a further nine months (bringing it to a year in total), you just need to take at least one Garuda flight from Australia to Indonesia within the three-month trial period.

This flight can be a one-way or return flight, and can be an itinerary from Australia to a third country via Indonesia. It can also be in any class of travel.

Garuda Indonesia flies the following routes between Australia and Indonesia:

• Sydney-Denpasar (Bali)
• Sydney-Jakarta
• Melbourne-Denpasar (Bali)
• Melbourne-Jakarta

If you don’t take at least one eligible Garuda Indonesia flight within three months of receiving a status match, your status will drop back to your original GarudaMiles tier.

How to apply for the Garuda status match

If you’re interested in this offer, you can send an “expression of interest” email to [email protected].

In your email, you’ll need to include the following:

• A copy of your Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer membership card (with name and expiry date clearly visible)
• A copy of your recent Qantas or Velocity activity statement/s
• A copy of your GarudaMiles card (or if you’re not already a GarudaMiles member, a completed registration form)

The benefits of Garuda Indonesia & SkyTeam status

GarudaMiles Platinum is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus status, the top level within the SkyTeam alliance. It comes with the following benefits on Garuda and SkyTeam flights:

• Priority check-in
• Airport lounge access (for international flights only)
• Priority baggage
• Extra baggage allowance
• Priority boarding
• Preferred seating
• Birthday bonus gift
• Tier bonus miles (Garuda flights only)
• Priority reservation waitlist

Learn more about airline status matches & challenges

Want to learn more about how you can leverage your existing airline status to attain instant status with another airline?

Our AFF Training includes a helpful course explaining the shortcuts to status called “The Road to Platinum Status”. Learn more about the AFF Training here.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.