Comments on: How to Request an Airline Status Match

By: russ

russ — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:05:33 +0000

thank you chris,

you’re an awesome guy! keep up the great work! your work and efforts effect so many peoples lives positively! you should be very proud.

thank you
russ

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:10:11 +0000

It’s not a dumb question at all — and your assumption is correct. An awards ticket does not accrue additional miles.

By: russell

russell — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:10:10 +0000

simple and probably dumb question.

when you travel with redeemed flight miles, does that flight still get counted towards miles or is that flight a “mile-less flight” so to speak?
thanks

russ

By: Terri

Terri — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:57:00 +0000

My husband & I have been gold elite with KLM, and Delta for some time. We wanted the same with United, so wrote a letter to them last Fall, hoping they would give us premier elite status for 2010 when we knew we would be doing a lot of traveling. We were thrilled when we got a positive response, however, dismayed to learn it was only granted through the end of 2009. We plan our travel 3 months or more in advance and there was no way to log the needed miles by the end of the year to retain the status. Now we are back to no status with United, but hopefully will eventually get it back!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:46:42 +0000

@Elliot,

Look at the “Other Tips and Notes” section:

“You can usually only request one status match per airline per life. That’s right, life– so you should only request matches that you think will actually benefit you over the next year. Otherwise, if you need it later, you won’t be able to get it without earning it the hard way.”

By: Elliot Campbell

Elliot Campbell — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:46:41 +0000

There is something that you forgot to mention, and that is, that these status matches are usually one-time only. I.e., if you get the status match from an airline this year, then drop back to becoming a non-status member the next year, most airlines won’t allow you to do a status-match again in the future.

This may result in short-term benefits to most, if they don’t plan on actually completing the required amount of flying on each airline the following year. Upgrades and priority check-in/baggage handling on several airlines in one year may seem like its worth it, but if in a few years, you drop off the radar of an airline that you genuinely want to switch back to, there could be unintended consequences of making the switch. In this case, you would have to fly on the your new preferred airline as a regular member for a year, until you fly the required miles that everyone else has to fly.

By: D Lee

D Lee — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:08:10 +0000

Good post and this is information that's nice to know. Also worth mentioning is Continentals Lifetime Flight Miles and Million Miler program. Fly a million miles and have permanent elite status. All the continental credit card offers are on their website. There are other ways to earn miles from your everyday activities.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:21:57 +0000

Gee, if only I could get a copy of someone’s statement and let my graphics guy modify….

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:43:38 +0000

@James,

I posted them on Twitter a couple weeks ago, but can’t find the links at the moment. I’ll keep looking, but perhaps this one has expired– I’m not sure.

By: James Fowlkes

James Fowlkes — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:43:37 +0000

Chris,
If the offers are still valid, would you please post a comment including links to the two checking account deals for 45,000 Continental miles? Thanks.