Airlines will often give you elite status if you already have status with a competitor.
But it’s rare for non-U.S. airlines to do this. And it’s especially valuable when non-U.S. airlines that are partners of United or American/US Airways do this because that elite status will often afford you lounge access when flying United or American/US Airways.
Since US Airways has left the Star Alliance and joined oneworld, Star Alliance member Air Canada is offering status matches to US Airways elite frequent flyers. This is very rare for Air Canada to do.
US Airways Silvers get the grandiose-sounding but not all that rewarding ‘Altitude Prestige 25k’ level.
While US Airways Golds and above (so including Platinums and Chairmans Preferred members) get Altitude Elite 50k, which is also Star Alliance Gold.
That means you get priority check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access when flying a Star Alliance carrier (even flying United domestically).
To receive the status match:
- Submit your request by April 30. The documentation they want is a scan of your US Airways elite frequent flyer card.
- Travel on at least one eligible flight segment on Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada rouge by May 31 and credit it to your Aeroplan account.
They warn it can take 6 to 8 weeks to process the match. Status will be valid through February 28, 2015.
(HT: Loyalty Lobby)
- You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also follow me on Twitter for the latest deals. Don’t miss out!
This is somewhat valuable only if the two conditions below apply to you:
1) You match at the Altitude Elite 50K level and;
2) You will fly on AC long haul business class at least once until Feb 28 2015.
Apart from domestic lounge access with AC elite, when you are at the Elite 50K level, you will receive 2 electronic upgrade certs. Due to IT issues, you are able to use those upgrade certs on the cheapest coach seats and still be cleared for upgrades. However, the certs must be in your account to utilize when you do the bookings. And because AC is so anal with their upgrades, the chances of clearing are 99%.
They are probably doing this because they realize that US Airways leaving Star Alliance is actually a pretty bad devaluation of Aeroplan. Since the Aeroplan product just got weaker, they have to do something to get people to stick with Air Canada / Aeroplan.
http://www.creditwalk.ca/us-airways-exit-star-alliance-devalues-aeroplan/
I agree with Gavin.
AC lost many loyal customers when they became the most devalued FFP. Looks like the loads are light in the coming months and they have to backtrack to make up for their huge management mistakes with AP and Altitude program.
Damn, booked a flight on Porter instead of Air Canada at the end of May a couple weeks back because it was $70 cheaper. Oh well, no more *A Gold for me!
yes folks.. you too can have your flights rouged at the last moment! enjoy your 29″ seat pitch!!
Given that I don’t think anyone even has a non-expired US card yet, it is a bit of a race against the clock.
Is there any way to benefit from this if I have status with AA?
@Gavin. I honestly don’t know what you are on, because your list of what E50 gets you is stunningly wrong.
1) E50 gets you up to 40 upgrade credits and flights take between 1 and 17 credit to upgrade. Further, TATL/TPAC/SA flights require a $500 or $750 co-pay per direction in addition to the credits.
2) Upgrades CAN NOT be used on cheapest fares. In AC lexicon, you must buy Flex fares or higher.
3) E50s only clear Flex fare upgrades 5 days from departure and you only need the credits then. Upgrades at booking only apply to Y/B/O fares.
4) Your chances of clearing as an E50 isn’t close to 99%, in fact it’s probably below 50% unless you buy very expensive fares or only fly leisure routes. SE and E75 will trump you every time, and there are a lot of us.
Having said that, it’s still a good deal as for 1 flight you get 12 months of lounge access, free bags, priority boarding and some lounge passes you can give away to friends.