Why I Instantly Jumped On British Airways Status Match

British Airways is offering a lucrative status match to customers based in North America and I took advantage of this opportunity almost instantly yesterday. You should too if you are considering it, because my hunch is this status match opportunity will not last until May.

How To Obtain British Airways Status Match

It’s very simple: on this page, submit your details and a copy of your elite membership card. British Airways will take up to five business days to process your request and match your status.

British Airways is matching elites from the following programs:

The status is granted for six months with no strings attached. To keep it, though, you must fly two transatlantic trips (originating in Canada, Mexico, or the USA) in business or first class. The flights must be marketed by British Airways (BA flight numbers), but can be operated by British Airways, American, Finnair, or Iberia.

Easy, right? Even if you do not take these two paid trips, it will give you a chance to enjoy elite status on British Airways for a half-year with no other strings attached.

Why I Took Advantage Of This 

Admission: I miss oneworld emerald status very much. I’m a United Airlines loyalist and will continue to be, meaning I typically fly Star Alliance over oneworld, but I really enjoyed my time as an American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum member, which gave me access to what I consider to the best portfolio of status-based lounges in the world, including:

…and of course, there are many more around the world.

These lounges are all top-notch and certainly do make it appealing to fly a oneworld carrier.

As an LAX-based flyer, with British Airways Gold status I can access the Qantas First Lounge and use American Flagship First check-in even if I am traveling on a domestic economy class ticket. That’s quite a compelling reason to use AA on shorter flights.

CONCLUSION

British Airways is offering status matches to US-based flyers on a limited-time basis. I’ve already submitted a status match request and encourage you to do the same, if eligible.

I expect this promotion will have an overwhelming popular response. In fact, I think it will be so overwhelming that British Airways will pull it early.

Those British Airways Gold members who earned status the “hard” way need not worry: since BA does not offer complimentary upgrades, it’s not like anyone will be stealing “your” upgrades…