Summary
- United Airlines offers status match for American Airlines’ Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Pro members, valid for 120 days.
- Virgin Atlantic matches Silver and Gold tiers for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members, respectively.
- Alaska Airlines provides status matches for Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Pro members but not for the 100K tier.
Do you have an elite status with American Airlines and wish to receive a status match with another airline? Many global airlines offer status matches with American’s Advantage program. A status match provides an equivalent status tier with a different airline based on your existing status. Many airlines are eager to bring members of rival airlines who may be unsatisfied with their existing program or want to switch to different airlines due to their circumstances. This article explores some of the top global airlines that match American Airlines’ elite status.
1
United Airlines
Status matched with Premier Silver, Premier Gold, and Premier Platinum
| United MileagePlus Program | Premier Silver | Premier Gold | Premier Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro |
One of the three big US airlines, United, offers elite status match with American Airlines’ AAdvantage program. Members holding Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Pro with American Airlines can be matched at the three corresponding statuses with United Airlines. The airline has relaunched its Status Match Challenge this year and members can register to upgrade their account. United offers a complimentary status match for 120 days.
Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock
To continue their elite status with the airline, members must earn a set number of (depending on their status) Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP). United Airlines states that members who earn a Premier status before July are valid through January 2025. For members achieving status on or after July 1, it is valid through January 2026.
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2
Virgin Atlantic
Status matched with Silver and Gold tiers
| Virgin Atlantic Loyalty Program | Second Tier (Silver) | Top Tier (Gold) |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Platinum Pro | Executive Platinum |
The UK-based Virgin Atlantic allows an elite status with American Airlines’ Advantage program. Members holding Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum with American Airlines can be matched at Silver or Gold tiers, respectively. While an instant match is applicable at Virgin Atlantic, members matching to the Second Tier (Silver) must have a flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in any cabin to qualify for the match.
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Meanwhile Top Tier (Gold) status match applicants must have a future paid flight booked in Premium Economy or Upper Class to be eligible. With the eligibility criteria fulfilled, the airline approves the match which is valid for 12 months from the date the account was upgraded.
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3
Delta Air Lines
Status matched with Silver, Gold, and Platinum
| Delta SkyMiles Program | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, Concierge Key |
Delta Air Lines offers an elite status match with several airlines, including American. While Advantage members can match any elite status with Delta’s equivalent, there are some criteria that members must meet.
- No status match or Medallion status (promotional or complimentary) received in the past three years.
- Current elite status with American Airlines must have been earned through the airline’s requirements, not complimentary
- Proof of earned status, including the elite membership card with a name, a statement from American Airlines showing the elite status
- Activity that earned the elite status
- Must be an active Delta SkyMiles member enrolled at least 30 days prior to the status match request.
- Must have flown on at least one Delta-marketed flight (higher than basic economy) in the past three years.
Delta provides a complimentary elite status match for three months, which begins after the approval confirmation email.
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4
Alaska Airlines
Status matched with MVP, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Program | MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro |
Alaska Airlines offers an elite status match with American Airlines’ Advantage program. Members can match their elite status with Alaska’s equivalent, except for the MVP Gold 100K tier, as it is not open for status matches. Alaska requires members to submit a screenshot of the current mileage statement with American, displaying name, status, and miles earned (in 2024) or flown (in 2023) to achieve elite status.
Photo: VDB Photos | Shutterstock
Notably, members matching MVP Gold 75K will not be eligible for the 50,000 bonus miles for the qualifying status, even if the 20,000-mile threshold is reached. The airline states that members who earn elite status by June will have it valid through the end of the year, and those achieving status on or after July 1 will have it valid through the end of next year.
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5
Turkish Airlines
Status matched with Classic, Classic Plus, Elite, and Elite Plus
| Miles and Smiles Program | Classic | Classic Plus | Elite | Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro | Executive Platinum |
Turkish Airlines offers an elite status match with American Airlines’ Advantage program at all elite levels. Elite status with Turkish Airlines can be requested through a status match application. The airline requires AAdvantage members to also submit a copy of their current mileage status, a photo page of their passport, and recent account activity showing earned elite status with the airline.
Photo: Authentic travel | Shutterstock
When approved, members receive an equivalent elite status with Turkish Airlines that is valid for four months. However, it can be extended for another eight months by having at least one flight with the airline within the time. Members can keep their elite status for another year by earning 15,000 miles in the first year. Turkish Airlines’ offering makes it one of the easiest ways to match AAdvantage elite status.
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Have you tried to match elite status with a different airline? Share your experience in the comments section.