UPDATES:
  • Alaska Airlines offers credit card members to earn 2,000 elite-qualifying miles for every $10,000 spent. Must register by June 30, 2023. 
  • Spirit Airlines offers a Status Match from 16 airlines' frequent flyer programs or 16 hotel loyalty programs with a fee. Unknown offer's end date. 
  • Alaska Airlines offers an elite status fast track to 10 participating corporation employees. Register by June 30, 2023.
  • Added United MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge 2023 and targeted United offers Premier members to buy up to the next elite status level. 

Like hotel rewards programs, airlines offer elite status to improve travel experiences, such as complimentary seat upgrades, free check-bags, early priority boarding, etc. 

Each airline sets its qualifications and requirements for achieving elite status, sometimes requiring several flights and segments. Fortunately, there are promotions and a shortcut method known as "status match" to achieve the airline's elite status for airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. 

United Polaris Business Class
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    Air Canada

    [Expired]
    • Invitation Only: A new American Express Air Canada Credit Card offers Star Alliance Gold status and access to Air Canada's Signature Suites in Vancouver and Toronto.

    Air Canada does not offer status match requests at this time; however, Air Canada offers an opportunity to secure your 2023 elite status with your Aeroplan credit card:
    • Earn 30,000 points from any Aeroplan credit card purchases, such as the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card.
    • Purchases must be made by November 30, 2022.
    • All the points you have earned with your Aeroplan card since the beginning of the year will be counted toward this offer. 
    • Status extensions for members who have earned the points required will begin in July.
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Alaska Airlines

    UPDATES:
    • The offer was sent via email to Alaska Airlines Visa credit card members.
    • Earn 2,000 elite-qualifying miles for every $10,000 spent on qualifying purchases.
    • Register for this offer below by June 30, 2023.
    • Then use your Alaska Airlines Visa card to make purchases between May 1 and November 30, 2023. For every $10,000 dollars spent, you'll earn 2,000 elite-qualifying miles.
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    UPDATES:

    UPDATES:

    [Expired]
    • Alaska Airlines offers a 2023 Fast Track elite status challenge. 
    • The offer is valid only for Mileage Plan members that held MVP, MVP Gold, or MVP Gold 75k status as of January 1, 2022.
    • Earn the following base miles between January 13 and April 13, 2023! 
      • MVP members: 5,000 miles
      • MVP Gold members: 10,000 miles
      • MVP Gold 75K members: 20,000 miles
    • Status is good through December 31, 2023.
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    UPDATES:

    [Expired]
    • California residents can get Alaska Airlines' elite status when they fly nonstop on qualifying coast-to-coast flights. 
    • You need two (2) round trips to earn MVP status.
    • You need four (4) round trips to earn MVP Gold status. 
    • Must fly from January 1 - March 31, 2023!
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    UPDATES:

    [Expired]
    • Alaska Airlines offers complimentary MVP and MVP Gold status for Flight Pass subscribers.
    • Flight Pass starts at $49 per month, and to get the MVP status through 2023, you are looking to pay the subscription plan that starts at $99 per month. 
    • Flight Pass Pro starts at $199/month and comes with MVP Gold status through 2023. 
    • Must subscribe before November 30, 2022. 
    • Existing subscribers can also receive the complimentary status by December 7, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    UPDATES:

    [Expired]
    • Alaska Airlines send out emails to select cardmembers of Alaska Airlines Credit Card with the opportunity to earn 1,000 elite qualifying miles for every $5,000 spent through December 31, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Alaska Airlines offers Status Match Challenge that you can request from another airline and gain equal Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan status for 90 days. During those 90 days, you must complete flights with Alaska Airlines to keep the status level longer. 

    How to Request Status Match Challenge with Alaska Airlines

    • Alaska Airlines status match offer is one-time-only. 
    • Provide your current status with another frequent flyer program, your Alaska Mileage Plan number, and email address, and upload a screenshot of your elite status level with that frequent flyer program showing the following information:
      • Your first and last name
      • Your current status
      • Your miles flown year-to-date or miles flown from the prior year
    • After your status match request is approved, your newly upgraded Alaska Mileage Plan status is good for 90 days. During that same 90 days period, you must earn enough miles by flying on Alaska-operated flights to keep your status level longer:
      • MVP: fly 5,000 miles on Alaska Airlines 
      • MVP Gold: fly 10,000 miles on Alaska Airlines 
      • MVP Gold 75K: fly 20,000 miles on Alaska Airlines
    • Earning Alaska Mileage Plan status also comes with oneworld elite status levels such as Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to unlock even more perks when you fly with oneworld alliance airlines. 
    • Also, please note that: 
      • If you request a status match by the end of June and meet the requirements, you will keep your status through the end of the calendar year.
      • However, if you request a status match between July and December and meet the requirements, you can keep your status through the end of next year.
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    American Airlines

    American Airlines has simplified its requirements to gain elite status. American Airlines status is now earned with Loyalty Points, and 1 eligible AA mile earns you 1 Loyalty Points. You can earn Loyalty Points in many ways, from flying to credit card purchases and online shopping through the American Airlines shopping portal or partners. 

    UPDATES:

    [Expired]

    American Airlines Elite Members Receive Fast Track Challenge & Earn Up to World of Hyatt Globalist Elite Status through American Airlines Instant Status Pass:
    • Enjoy American Airlines AAdvantage elite status for 4 months:
      • Explorist members receive AAdvantage Platinum status. You can maintain AAdvantage Platinum status when you accrue 25,000 Loyalty Points during the 4 months after registering. 
      • Globalist members receive AAdvantage Platinum Pro status. You can maintain AAdvantage Platinum Pro status when you accrue 42,000 Loyalty Points during the 4 months after registering. 
    • You can keep your status for up to a year by completing the same qualifying activity every 4 months. The status will be extended through the remainder of the 2023 membership year.  
    • You must register for the offer by December 28, 2022.
    • You must link your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts by December 12, 2022. See this post for more information and how to link your accounts. 
    • If your accounts are already linked, check the Promotions tab in your AAdvantage account for the American Airlines Instant Status Pass offer. 

    How to Request Status Match Challenge with American Airlines Instant Status Pass


    ANA (All Nippon Airways)

    ANA offers a status match campaign from select airlines' frequent flyer programs, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Japan Airlines. Other airlines will be considered, too, but United and Air Canada are excluded. The matched status will be valid through March 31, 2023.

    How to Request Status Match Challenge with ANA (All Nippon Airways)

    [Expired]
    • ANA status match campaign targets American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Japan Airlines. 
    • Members of select airlines' frequent flyer programs with valid 2021 or 2022 elite status. 
    • Valid for a legal resident of North America (the United States of the Americas, Mexico, or Canada. Residents of Quebec, Canada are excluded);
    • The offer ended on September 28, 2022.
    • Follow the Direct Link to the offer to learn more and access the status match application. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Bamboo Airways

    UPDATES:
    • Per a reader's comment below, Bamboo Airways no longer offer the status match as of May 31, 2022.

    Bamboo Airways is a Vietnamese airline that offers an easy status match request through December 31, 2022, for any frequent flyer members of Vietnam Airlines, oneworld, Star Alliance, or SkyTeam. 

    How to Request Status Match with Bamboo Airways

    • You first must sign up for the Bamboo Club. The page is Vietnamese, but you can select English at the top. 
    • Submit photo proof of your elite status with the other airline. A digital membership card is okay too. 
    • Complete the status match request form here. 
      • The form is Vietnamese, so you can use Google Translate to translate the content. 
      • The form asks about the Vietnamese address to mail your Bamboo Club card. You can enter any address in Vietnam because the status match offers frequent flyer members worldwide.
    • The offer ended on December 31, 2022. [Expired, see the update above]
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Delta Air Lines

    UPDATES:
    • Delta Air Lines award tickets are now permanently counted towards status! See the official press release here. 
    • Amex Cardholders receive a targeted email offer for a status match + 1 level. Once approved, the complimentary status is valid through August 31, 2022. This is a targeted offer sent via email. So please check your email, including junk mail, or check your eligibility via the direct link to the offer. 

    Delta Air Lines offers a status match that you can request. Once your status match request is approved, you will receive complimentary Delta's matched status immediately for 3 months. You will also need to earn enough miles by flying and spend a certain amount of money maintaining the status. 

    How to Request Status Match Challenge with Delta Air Lines

    • You may participate in Delta's status match challenge for SkyMiles Platinum, Gold, or Silver Medallion.
    • Complete the status match challenge request form with your Delta SkyMiles information. 
    • Upload the following proof of your elite status with the other airline. You can take a photo or screenshots of your app or computer screen to show the following required information:
      • A copy of your current elite status with the other airline with your name on it.
      • A statement showing your earned elite status and activity with that airline program. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Etihad Airways

    Etihad Airways launches and sells model airplane NFTs that you can purchase and earn Silver elite status.
    • The sale begins on July 21, 2022, at 6PM UAE time. 
    • Each NFT costs $349 plus tax. 
    • You can also pre-register for 20 NFTs give-away before they go on sale. All the registration form asks for is your name and email address. 
    • You receive instant Etihad Guest Silver status for one year after purchase. 
    • The offer expired on August 18, 2022.
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Hawaiian Airlines

    Hawaiian Airlines allows the status match request to their elite status levels. Once the request is approved, the status is good for 12 months. You will also not need to complete any challenges. 

    How to Request Status Match Challenge with Hawaiian Airlines

    • There's no standard form to request a status match with Hawaiian Airlines. 
    • Complete the contact form and attach a copy of your elite status and related flight activity with another airline program. A couple things to note:
      • Your flight history must include similar routes operated by Hawaiian Airlines to be considered. 
      • It also helps to include any upcoming Hawaiian Airlines reservation information because Hawaiian Airlines likes to see you flying with them. 
    • Direct Link to Contact Hawaiian Airlines

    ITA Airways

    [Expired]

    ITA Airways Volare program offers status matches from one of the selected airlines in the Skyteam, including United Airlines (see the offer link below). The campaign runs through September 15, 2022. 

    How to Request Status Match with ITA Airways

    You can request a status match by completing the signup form through the offer link below.

    JetBlue

    Unfortunately, JetBlue is not offering any status match or challenge, but that does not mean the offer never exists. Subscribe to our blog posts below; we can let you know when the offer returns. 

    JetBlue only has one simple, straightforward elite status level called Mosaic. Once you earn the Mosaic status in a calendar year, it will be valid through the end of the following calendar year. 

    LATAM Airlines

    [Expired]

    LATAM Airlines offer a LATAM Pass Status Match with another frequent flyer program of the airlines that operate in the region (Columbia). The offer is valid through October 31, 2022, and the granted status is valid until March 31, 2023. 

    How to Request Status Match with LATAM Airlines


    Royal Air Maroc

    [Expired]

    Royal Air Maroc does not offer any status match and challenge. They currently offer the following for status:
    • 25% discount on Silver, Gold, and Platinum card renewal thresholds for 2023.
    • Renewal of 2021 accumulated Status Miles until December 31, 2022!
    • Double elite miles on all flights until the end of this year. 
      • Earn 2x Elite Qualifying Safar Flyer Miles for any Royal Air Maroc flight. 
      • Book and fly by December 31, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Spirit Airlines

    UPDATES: 
    • Spirit Airlines offers a Status Match from 16 airlines' frequent flyer programs or 16 hotel loyalty programs. Because this is not a status challenge, you are not required to complete any flying requirements, and you'll get Spirit Airlines elite status for a full 12 months. 
    • The downside is there's a fee:
      • Match to Gold Status for $99
      • Match to Silver Status for $49
    • Unknown expiration date, but this is a limited-time offer. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Spirit Airlines offer a Status Match Challenge when you request to match your status level from another frequent flyer program. You will be given the equivalent Free Spirit Status for 90 days and an opportunity to maintain the status with reduced requirements. 

    How to Request Status Match with Spirit Airlines

    • You have not received a Status Match or complimentary Free Spirit Status in the past two years.
    • Complete and upload your documents to request the Status Match Challenge. 
    • Go to the link below for the Status comparison chart and the challenge requirements. 
    • Unknown expiration date. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Southwest Airlines

    Southwest Airlines allows the status match request to Southwest A-List status from another airline. Once your information is verified and your request is approved, you will become A-List, and you have 90 days to keep the A-list for another 12 months after you fly three (3) round trips or six (6) one-ways within those 90 days. 

    How to Request Status Match with Southwest Airlines

    You can request a status match by emailing the following information to Southwest's dedicated email contact below:

    TAP Air Portugal

    [Expired]

    TAP Air Portugal does not offer any status match and challenge. They offer a standard promotion that allows you to earn double elite status miles: 
    • Earn double miles towards your status miles with TAP Air Portugal when you buy and fly with TAP. 
    • Purchase your TAP ticket by July 31, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Thai Airways

    [Expired]

    Thai Airways has an interesting new promotion: purchase a Royal Orchid Plus Gold elite membership and receive an air ticket cash credit voucher. The "Time To Gold" package costs THB 350,000, about $10,185. 

    The "Time To Gold" package includes the following:
    • Air Ticket Cash Credit Voucher valued at THB 350,000 (~$10,185).
    • Complimentary Royal Orchid Plus 2-year Gold membership status. 
    • The offer expired on July 31, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    United Airlines

    UPDATES:
    • United Airlines offers Premier members an opportunity to buy up an upgrade to a higher 2023 Premier status:
      • Premier Gold to Platinum for $2,768 or 307,500 miles
      • Premier Gold to Platinum for $3,374 or 337,410 miles
      • Premier Silver to Gold for $2,758 or 275,760
      • Premier Platinum to 1K for $8,372, or 837,200 miles
      • Premier Silver to Gold for $3,590 or 359,010 miles
      • Premier Gold to Platinum for $7,674 or 852,667 miles
      • Premier Platinum to 1K for $4,584 or 509,333 miles
      • Premier Platinum to 1K for $9,359 or 935,900 miles
    • Direct Link to Check If Your United Account Is Targeted

    First, suppose you are a Marriott Titanium Elite or Marriott Ambassador Elite status member. In that case, you can receive the complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status through United and Marriott Bonvoy's partnership (a.k.a Marriott Rewards Plus). You can register for the exclusive joint program's offer through the following link. Be patient after submitting your request. I submitted the request in January and received the approval email in March. 

    United MileagePlus offers Premier Status Match Challenge that you can participate in. Once your status match request is verified and approved, you will immediately be upgraded to the equivalent MileagePlus status for 120 days. Within those 120 days, you must earn a certain number of Premier qualifying flights (PQF) AND Premier qualifying points (PQP) on United-operated flights to keep your status. 

    How to Request Status Match with United Airlines

    • All 2023 Premier status match requests must be submitted by June 30, 2023, and started by June 30, 2023.
    • Complete the status match challenge form with the required information, such as your MileagePlus account number, email address, and a copy of your most recent mileage activity or summary, along with your 2023 membership card showing your name, current elite status, and status expiration date or validity period with another airline program. 
    • Allow 7-14 business days for your request to be processed and receive a response from United Airlines. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Virgin Atlantic

    Virgin Atlantic offers status matches from specific airline programs only. Once your request is approved, you are matched to Gold or Silver, depending on your elite status with the other airline. You must also have a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in a specific class of service. More below.

    How to Request Status Match with Virgin Atlantic

    • Virgin Atlantic only allows the status match from certain airlines. 
    • Become an Instant Gold member by proving you are in the top tier of one of the airline loyalty schemes. 
      • You'll also need a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in either Premium Economy or Upper Class.
      • You'll also need to earn 1,000 tier points in the membership period to keep Gold status. 
    • Become an Instant Silver member by proving you are in the second tier of one of the airline loyalty schemes. 
      • You'll also need a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in any cabin class.
      • You'll also need to earn 400 tier points in the membership period to keep Silver status. 
    • Once your status match is approved, it will be valid for 12 months from when your Virgin Atlantic account is upgraded. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    Virgin Australia

    [Expired]

    Virgin Australia does not offer a status match. There are promotions and offers to earn bonus status credits occasionally. Here's an offer:
    • Earn bonus status credits when you fly on eligible Virgin Australia flights. 
      • Travel by June 30, 2022. 
    • Earn status credits on Reward Seats on eligible Virgin Australia flights.
      • Travel by July 31, 2022. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer

    WestJet

    [Expired]

    WestJet offers Aeroplan, VIPorter, or British Airways Executive Club status match requests. 
    • WestJet Rewards tier status Silver, Gold, and Platinum will be awarded based on the following:
      • Silver will be awarded proof of Aeroplan 25K, VIPorter Passport, Executive Club Bronze, or Executive Club Silver
      • Gold will be awarded proof of Aeroplan 35K, Aeroplan 50K, Aeroplan 75K, VIPorter Priority, or Executive Club Gold
      • Platinum will be awarded proof of Aeroplan Super Elite.
    • The matched status is valid until December 15, 2022.
    • To keep the status through 2023, your required tier-qualifying spending will be 20% of what you normally need. See the offer link below for more details and how to submit your status match request. 
    • Direct Link to the Offer