These days we’re seeing a much more active status match market than in recent years. Airlines are “back” and they mean business and they also want other people’s business. I have so many thoughts on this topic and will share some below, but I can’t help but be impressed by the gusto of this opportunity.
Not only is Virgin Atlantic offering a very broad and easy to achieve status match, matching with 11 global airlines, they’ve put 5 million points behind it, making five “points millionaires” for making the jump.
Here’s everything you need to know about this new Virgin Atlantic Flying Club status match opportunity.
Status Matching
Status matching is not a binding contract.
When you accept a status match you don’t forego your current status with whatever airline or hotel you’re with when you match over to another airline. You simply attain another “matched” status which gives you the chance to jump ship without having to start fresh and work your way to big perks.
The why is obvious: when airlines smell discontent, they extend these warm and fuzzy offers to customers looking for new love. Much like getting someone to change banks, getting a big traveler to swap airlines isn’t an easy feat to achieve. Immediate access to the “good life” is a clever enticement.
Should you take an airline status match? It really depends if you’ll actually use it. Matching and then not using it means you’ll likely be excluded from future match opportunities, so getting another semi precious metal status to your name just to watch it rot in your pocket is dumb. If you match, make moves. If you won’t make moves, wait for the next opportunity.
You basically get to come in fresh to another loyalty program but get treated like you’ve been a valuable customer all along and that’s why people love status matches.
Virgin Atlantic’s Status Match
Virgin Atlantic is out with an aggressive offer targeting elite status members of 11 airlines. As a boutique (but growing) airline, Virgin Atlantic matches more aggressively to entice customers than some others and its taking things to new levels by adding this points bait.
Not only is this match pretty wide spanning, the airline is offering (5) UK based status matchers 1,000,000 points as lucky winners when they do. The process is pretty simple.
- You need to create a Virgin Flying Club account
- Book a flight in premium or Upper Class for top tier (Gold)
- Fill out the form to match.
Virgin Atlantic’s status match programme allows customers in the top tier of 11 airlines – British Airways, Air Canada, Air India, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hawaiian, Iberia, Lufthansa, South African Airways, United Airlines – the opportunity to receive the equivalent status on Virgin Atlantic.
To become Flying Club Gold, customers need to have a future revenue or redemption flight booked with Virgin Atlantic or one of our codeshare partners in either Premium orUpper Class while those matching to Silver will need to have a future revenue or redemption flight booked with Virgin Atlantic or one of our codeshare partners in any cabin. Customers must not have held Flying Club status in the last five years using status match.*
Virgin Atlantic
I could continue to regale you with riveting details, but perhaps the best way to share this information is by sending you directly to Virgin Atlantic, where full details, T&C’s, and how to information to submit a match can be obtained. Visit this Virgin Atlantic offer here.
GSTP Take: Competition Is Fun
This is a bold status match move and the 5 million points put behind is fun fun. I’d love to become a points millionaire via this offer, but I actually took advantage of a Virgin Status Match many years ago and have retained Gold ever since.
This match is upping the ante on what status matches have previously offered. Of course, locking in some revenue by requiring people to actually book a flight with Virgin, or at least a codeshare with Virgin flight numbers, helps to ensure people who match are at least semi serious for the airline.
The funny thing about matches is that they can go both ways. A match is a real declaration of fierce active competition and airlines always know the tables can turn and someone can target their customers right back. As consumers, it’s hard to be sad when these battles start!
