Tag Archives for status match.
This new site is a status match concierge service for customers. So far it’s just airlines but in the next few weeks they’ll add hotel programs and eventually cruise lines, casinos, and car rentals (the need here is to get agreements into place).
A lot of airlines would do status matches if they had a formal process for it. Instead customers make unprompted asks to programs and get ignored or rejected. And they have contracts or relationships with several airlines.
It turns out though that anyone can register for free Hyatt status and a fast track, and the broader offer is even better because instead of free 90 days of status, the free Explorist mid-tier status lasts through end of 2021 whether you stay enough with Hyatt to keep status or not.
What’s more, instead of having just 90 days to stay enough to keep status you’ve got until the end of the year so it’s far more generous.
Hyatt and American Airlines have new offers to fast track towards elite status for current elite members of the other program. Hyatt even gives free temporary status while you work on your challenge. They aren’t super easy, or with American necessarily the best way to achieve status we’ve seen in the market, however.
Carnvial Cruises has an elite status match program. They will match against casino loyalty programs, because they want big gamblers on their ships. And the offer even includes free cruises.
How about this for worst timing ever? Right at the start of the pandemic Star Alliance airline TAP Air Portugal launched a huge marketing campaign for its 75th anniversary, to make their frequent flyer program relevant for Americans. They offered miles for sale at less than a penny each and an elite status match program.
Members who took them up on the status match, fortunately, had that status extended. And it turns out that the status match offer is still available.
Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways plans U.S. flights starting later this year. Now they’re offering a status match for elites in any airline’s program that’s part of a major world alliance, up to their top tier, and they aren’t requiring any flights in order to get it.
Loyalty programs are wasting opportunities to attract good customers, but with hotels at low occupancy and more airline seats than customers competition for elite members is going to become more fierce. Enter the status match. Loyalty programs are going to want to make sure they don’t become too expensive (offering benefits to people who do not become customers) and aren’t the victims of fraud (there are new techniques to fight status match fraud).
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
American Airlines is offering the easiest Gold status I’ve ever seen from a public offer, and a path to Platinum with just two flights as well. Just sign up for Mastercard Travel. Details of the promotion are available under ‘latest offers’ but there’s no registration required. And you don’t even need to be a current elite frequent flyer with another airline.
Through December 1, Frontier Airlines is offering to give elite status to customers with existing status with another airline. Status is valid through the end of 2021, and they’re matching up to their top tier of status. That’s actually really interesting because while Frontier is a low fare, fee-based airline top elites generally see all of their fees waived for everything.
Base-level status comes with a free carry on bag and seat assignment, and extra legroom seats if available at check-in as some of its benefits. Mid-tier status adds bonus miles. And top tier status offers checked bags and makes all tickets refundable, for everyone on the member’s booking.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
