Vietnam Airlines announced a status match offer. They’re partners with Delta Air Lines, and they’re a SkyTeam member, plus they have a number of other partnerships that can offer elite recognition so this will be reasonably interesting for many.

• Status with Vietnam Airlines can get you priority check-in, boarding and security when flying Delta as well as free checked bags. If you’re traveling coach on an international itinerary, it can get you lounge access as well.
  
• Their top tier status includes complimentary upgrades to premium economy (if available on day of departure), as well as priority for operational upgrades to business class. Vietnam Airlines serves San Francisco – Ho Chi Minh City, and can be a great jumping off point for Southeast Asia.
  
• I haven’t seen Vietnam Airlines offer status matches before. That’s useful, because if you’ve run through other SkyTeam airlines to match to this one is probably fresh and new.

Presidential Palace

Pho Hoa

My SkyTeam status comes from Air France KLM (Gold) which means free checked bags on an upcoming Delta flight in coach with my family. That’s a real savings.

Vietnam Airlines limits their status match to customers in certain countries – but the U.S. is included:

Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), and Thailand. In addition, members who reside in the following countries around the world can gain access to this exciting offer: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.

After matching status you’ll have your new tier for a year. Here are benefits of Platinum. Contra Marriott, Platinum is two levels above Titanium in the Lotusmiles program.

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This is not a free match offer! The fee to match to top tier is $299.

Once matched you won’t receive a physical card, though if you’re crediting to the Lotusmiles account status will appear on your boarding pass. You can, however, request a card by email (helpdesk.lotusmiles@vietnamairlines.com) and a card will be mailed “within 20-30 days, depending on your location.”

Here are the programs they will match status from:

Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Tier
AIRLINE	TITANIUM	GOLD	PLATINUM
ANA Mileage Club	BRONZE	PLATINUM	DIAMOND SUPER FLYERS
Aer Lingus AerClub	SILVER	PLATINUM	CONCIERGE
Air Canada Aeroplan	PRESTIGE 25K	ELITE 35K ELITE 50K	ELITE 75K SUPER ELITE 100K
Air China PhoenixMiles	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Air India Flying Returns	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Air New Zealand AirPoints	SILVER	GOLD	ELITE
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	MVP	MVP GOLD	MVP 100K MVP 75K
American Airlines AAdvantage	GOLD	PLATINUM	CONCIERGE KEY EXECUTIVE PLATINUM PLATINUM PRO
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club	SILVER	GOLD	DIAMOND DIAMOND PLUS PLATINUM
Avianca LifeMiles	SILVER	GOLD	DIAMOND
British Airways Executive Club	BRONZE	SILVER	GOLD GOLD GUEST LIST PREMIER
Brussels Airlines Miles & More	FREQUENT TRAVELLER	SENATOR	HON CIRCLE
Cathay Pacific Cathay	SILVER	GOLD	DIAMOND DIAMOND PLUS INVITATION
China Southern Sky Pearl Club	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Copa Airlines ConnectMiles	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM PRESIDENTIAL PLATINUM
Croatia Airlines Miles & More	FREQUENT TRAVELLER	SENATOR	HON CIRCLE
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands	SILVER	GOLD	DIAMOND
Egyptair Plus	SILVER	GOLD	ELITE PLATINUM
El Al Matmid	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM TOP PLATINUM
Emirates Skywards	SILVER	GOLD	IO PLATINUM
Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Etihad Guest	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Finnair Plus	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM PLATINUM LUMO
Iberia Plus	SILVER	GOLD	INFINITA PLATINUM PRIME SINGULAR
Icelandair Saga Club	SILVER	GOLD
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank	CRYSTAL	GLOBAL CLUB / GLOBAL CLUB CRYSTAL GLOBAL CLUB SAPPHIRE	GLOBAL CLUB DIAMOND GLOBAL CLUB PREMIER
LOT Polish Airlines Miles & More	FREQUENT TRAVELLER	SENATOR	HON CIRCLE
Lufthansa Miles & More	FREQUENT TRAVELLER	SENATOR	HON CIRCLE
Malaysia Airlines Enrich	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles	ELITE	PREMIER ELITE	MILLION MILER
Qantas Frequent Flyer	SILVER	GOLD	CHAIRMANS LOUNGE PLATINUM PLATINUM ONE
Qatar Airways Privilege Club	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer	SILVER	GOLD	AMBASSADOR PLATINUM
Royal Brunei Royal Skies	SILVER	GOLD
Royal Jordanian Royal Club	SILVER JAY	GOLD SPARROW	PLATINUM HAWK
SWISS Miles & More	FREQUENT TRAVELLER	SENATOR	HON CIRCLE
Shenzen Airlines PhoenixMiles	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	SILVER	GOLD	PPS PPS SOLITARE
South African Airways SAA Voyager	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Southwest Rapid Rewards	A-LIST	A-LIST PREFERRED	COMPANION PASS
Sri Lankan Airlines FlySmiLes	CLASSIC	GOLD	PLATINUM
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go	SILVER	GOLD	NAVIGATOR
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles	CLASSIC PLUS	ELITE	ELITE PLUS
United Airlines MileagePlus	PREMIER SILVER	PREMIER GOLD	GLOBAL SERVICES PREMIER 1K PREMIER PLATINUM
Virgin Australia Velocity	SILVER	GOLD	PLATINUM

A Southwest Airlines Companion Pass matches to top tier, which is odd since A-List Preferred does not. Even a Lufthansa Senator does not. The United, American and Alaska 75K tiers match to Vietnam Airlines Platinum. Naturally they aren’t matching Delta elites.