Airlines occasionally launch status-match promotions. Some programs also have Status challenge promotions. These status match & challenge promotions are among the easiest ways to earn airline elite status and make the most of your next travel adventure. Several airlines are offering status-match and challenge promotions you can use to earn airline elite status in 2026.
Paid Airlines Status Match & Challenge Promotions
Here is the list of airlines that are offering paid status matches or challenge promotions, region restrictions apply:
| Airline | Region | Highest Alliance Elite Status | Status Validity | Application Link |
| Air Astana Nomad Club | Europe, the Middle East and Asia | None | 31 Dec 2026 | Apply |
| Air France-KLM | Canada, India, Hong Kong, UAE & Select Countries | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 12 Months | Apply |
| Etihad Airways | India, Australia & Select ME Countries | None | 4 Months & 12 extention with 1 return flight | Apply |
| Kenya Airways | Worldwide | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 12 Months | Apply |
| KM Malta | UK & Europe | None | 31st Mar’26 | Apply |
| Royal Jordanian | UK, Europe, UAE & Middle East | OneWorld Sapphire | 12 Months | Apply |
| Royal Air Maroc | Canada, UK, Europe, UAE, Middle & Select Countries | OneWorld Emerald | 31st Dec’26 | Apply |
| TAP Portugal | Great Britain & Europe | Star Alliance Gold | 12 Months | Apply |
| Vietnam Airlines | USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, & Select Other Countries | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 12 Months | Apply |
Air Astana Nomad Club Status Match
The flag carrier of Kazakhstan, Air Astana is offering a status match to its frequent flyer program, Nomad Club
- Airline: Air Astana
- Airline Alliance: None
- Frequent Flyer Program: Nomad Club
- Status Match Link: Submit Request.
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Fees for Status Match:
- Silver Tier: $49
- Gold Tier: $199
- Validity: 31 December 2026.
- Eligible Countries:
- Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
- Eligible Airlines:
- Major airlines are eligible
- The list includes 58 airlines.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status:
- 25 hotel chains accepted
- Includes Accor, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Wyndham & TAJ.
- Hotel Gold or higher can match Nomad Club Gold
- Elite Status Retention:
- Standard rules applies.
- Official Link.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Status Match
- Airline: Air France-KLM
- Alliance: SkyTeam
- Frequent Flyer Program: Flying Blue
- Status match link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Fees for Status Match:
- Canada:
- Silver Tier: CAD 149
- Gold Tier: CAD 299
- Platinum Tier: CAD 499
- Italy:
- Silver Tier: €89
- Gold Tier: €199
- Platinum Tier: €349
- UK:
- Silver Tier: £79
- Gold Tier: £149
- Platinum Tier: £249
- Other Country members:
- Silver Tier: $99
- Gold Tier: $299
- Platinum Tier: $399 (Not available for China, Hong Kong & Taiwan)
- Canada:
- Eligible Countries:
- Canada
- Italy (ITA Volare Miles & More status holders)
- United Kingdom (British Airways Club status members)
- India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal
- United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bahrain, Nepal & Iran.
- Kenya & South Africa
- Eligible Airlines:
- 25 Major Airlines are eligible.
- For Italy and UK members, specific airlines’ elite status applies.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match: 12 months
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies.
- Official Link.
Etihad Status Match Challenge Promotion
- Airline: Etihad Airways
- Alliance: None
- Frequent Flyer Program: Etihad Guest
- Status match link: Submit Request
- Matched Tiers:
- Silver Tier
- Gold Tier
- Fees for Status Match:
- India:
- Silver: $59
- Gold: $99
- Australia:
- Silver: $49
- Gold: $79
- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman & Qatar: Nil
- India:
- Eligible Countries:
- India & Australia.
- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman & Qatar.
- Eligible Airlines:
- 7 eligible airlines.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status:
- India: 4 months plus an additional 12 months with one return flight.
- Australia: 6 months plus additional with one return flight.
- The flight should earn at least one Etihad Guest Mile.
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies.
- Official Link.
Kenya Airways Status Match Promotion
- Airline: Kenya Airways
- Alliance: SkyTeam
- Frequent Flyer Program: Asante Rewards
- Status Match Link: Submit Request .
- Matched Tiers:
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Fees for Status Match:
- Canada, USA or anywhere in the Americas, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Silver Tier: $99
- Gold & Platinum Tier: $299
- All other countries:
- Silver Tier: $80
- Gold & Platinum Tier: $175
- Hotel elite status based match:
- Silver Tier: $99
- Gold Tier: $299
- Travel Rewards Credit Card based matched:
- Silver: $99
- Canada, USA or anywhere in the Americas, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Eligible Countries: Members from all countries are eligible.
- Eligible Airlines: All Major Airlines are eligible.
- Eligible Hotels chains: A total of 18 Hotels Elite Status are eligible.
- Eligible travel rewards credit card:
- Mastercard (World, World Elite)
- Visa (Infinite, Signature, Rewards, Platinum)
- Amex (Platinum/Charge)
- Validity of Elite Status: 12 Months.
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies.
- Official Link.
KM Malta Status Match
- Airline: KM Malta
- Alliance: None
- Status Match Link: Submit Request .
- Frequent Flyer Program: KM Rewards
- Matched Tier:
- Traveller
- Explorer
- Pioneer
- Fees for Status Match:
- Traveller: €49
- Explorer: €79
- Pioneer: €149
- Eligible Countries:
- United Kingdom, Swiss, or European passport holders.
- Eligible Airlines:
- 64 Airlines are eligible.
- Eligible Hotel chains:
- 16 Hotel Elite Status holders are eligible.
- Travel Cards:
- Mastercard: Platinum, World & World Elite
- Visa: Rewards, Platinum, Signature & Infinite.
- AMEX: Gold, Platinum & Centurion.
- Validity of Elite Status:
- 12 months
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies.
- How to status match:
- Go to this link and submit your Interest.
- Official Link
Royal Jordanian Status Match
- Airline: Royal Jordanian
- Alliance: OneWorld
- Frequent Flyer Program: Royal Club
- Status Match Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Silver Jay
- Gold Sparrow
- Fees for Status Match:
- Silver Jay: $49
- Gold Sparrow: $149
- Eligible Countries:
- Canada
- Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom
- Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Omna, Saudi Arabia, Syria & UAE
- Eligible Airlines:
- 21 Airlines
- Mainly Europen, Middle East-based Airlines & Air Canada.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status:
- All Major International Chains are eligible.
- Matches only to Silver Tier.
- Occassional promotions to match Gold Tier.
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 12 Months.
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies.
- Official Link.
Royal Air Maroc Status Match
- Airline: Royal Air Maroc
- Alliance: OneWorld
- Frequent Flyer Program: Safar Flyer loyalty program
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Fees for status match:
- Silver: $149
- Gold: $349
- Platinum: $749
- Eligible Countries:
- Canada
- Brazil
- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
- Israel, Egypt
- Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirate.
- Algeria, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Dem. Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tunisia & Togo
- Eligible Airlines:
- 19 Airlines
- Mainly European, Select Middle East-based Airlines & Air Canada.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Available
- Validity of Elite Status:
- 31st December 2026
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rules applies, however until 31 January 2026 3x Status Miles Booster is available.
- Official Link.
TAP Air Portugal TAP Miles&GO Status Match
- Airline: TAP Air Portugal
- Alliance: Star Alliance
- Frequent Flyer Program: TAP Miles&GO
- Status Match Link: Submit Request .
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Fees of Status Match:
- Silver: €49
- Gold: €199
- Eligible Countries:
- Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican, Great Britain
- Eligible Airlines:
- Mainly US & European Airlines.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Applicable
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 12 months.
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Standard rule applies. However, for first 30 days, you get a 2x status booster is available with limit of 10000 status miles.
- Official Link.
Vietnam Airlines Status Match
- Airline: Vietnam Airlines
- Alliance: SkyTeam
- Frequent Flyer Program: Lotusmiles
- Status Match Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Titanium
- Gold
- Platinum
- Fees for Status Match:
- Airline Status Match Fees:
- Titanium: $129
- Gold: $219
- Platinum: $359
- Status Match Fees for Alaska Airlines:
- Titanium: $159
- Gold: $239
- Platinum: $359
- Hotel status match fees:
- Titanium: $149
- Gold: $239
- Airline Status Match Fees:
- Eligible Countries:
- The USA, Canada
- Australia
- Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
- Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Thailand & Vietnam.
- Bahrain & Saudia Arabia.
- Eligible Airlines:
- 47 Airlines.
- Most Flag Carriers are eligible.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status:
- All major hotel chains are eligible.
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 12 Months.
- Elite Status Retention Rule:
- Qualify based on regular rules.
- Official Link.
Free Airlines Status Match & Challenge Promotions
Here is the list of airlines that are offering free status matches or challenge promotions, region restrictions apply:
| Airline | Available For | Highest Alliance Elite Status | Status Validity | Application Link |
| Alaska Airlines | Select Airlines Elite Members | Oneworld Emerald | 90 Days & Extend by Flying | Apply |
| American Airlines | US Airlines Elite Members | Oneworld Emerald | 4 Months & Extend by earning loyalty points | Apply |
| Avianca Lifemiles | Latin America | Star Alliance Gold | 4 Months & Extend by earning Elite Miles | Apply |
| Delta Airlines | Select Airlines Elite Members | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 90 Days & Extend by earning MQDs | Apply |
| JetBlue | US Airlines Elite Members | None | 3 Months & Extend by earning Tiles | Apply |
| United Airlines | US Airlines, BA & QF Elite Members | Star Alliance Gold | 120 Days from 1st Flight & Extend by earning PQF & PQP | Apply |
| Virgin Atlantic | Select Airlines Elite Members | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 12 Months with conditions | Apply |
Alaska Airlines Status Match Challenge Promotion
- Airline: Alaska Airlines
- Alliance: OneWorld
- Frequent Flyer Program: Mileage Plan
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit request
- Matched Tier:
- MVP
- MVP Gold
- MVP Gold 75K
- Eligible Members: Legal residents of the United States and Canada are eligible for this promotion.
- Eligible Airlines:
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- Delta
- Frontier
- JetBlue
- Southwest
- United
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 90 Days, extend by earning base miles.
- If you start between July and December, you will keep the status until the end of next year. And, if you start the status challenge between Jan and Jun you will keep the status until the end of this year.
- Elite Status Retention Rule (Fly these miles in 90 days from the date of the status match):
- MVP status: fly 5,000 base miles on Alaska and Hawaiian flights
- MVP Gold status: fly 10,000 base miles on Alaska and Hawaiian flights
- MVP Gold 75K status: fly 20,000 base miles on Alaska and Hawaiian flights
- Conditions:
- Once in a lifetime.
- Complimentary or status earned through a promotion are not eligible for status challenge.
- Official Link.
American Airlines Instant Status Pass Promotion
- Airline: American Airlines
- Alliance: OneWorld
- Frequent Flyer Program: AAdvantage
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier
- Gold
- Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Executive Platinum
- Eligible Airlines:
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- JetBlue
- Southwest
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 4 Months, extend by earning loyalty points.
- Elite Status Match Challenge Conditions:
- Earn minimum points every 4 months to retain status:
- Gold: 13,000 loyalty points
- Platinum: 25000 loyalty points
- Platinum Pro: 42000 loyalty points
- Executive Platinum: 67000 loyalty points
- Earn minimum points every 4 months to retain status:
- Conditions:
- Available for members not registered for promotion in the last two years.
- Complimentary or status earned through a promotion are not eligible for status challenge.
- Official Link.
Avianca Lifemiles Status Match Challenge
- Airline: Avianca Lifemiles
- Alliance: Star Alliance
- Frequent Flyer Program: Lifemiles
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Diamond
- Eligible Members:
- Colombia, Ecuador, or any Central American country (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Panama)
- Eligible Airlines:
- Latam Pass
- American Airlines
- Aeromexico
- Delta
- Iberia
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 4 Months, extend by earning qualifying miles.
- Elite Status Match Challenge Conditions:
- Meet Elite Status Criteria in 4 months.
- Red: 1000 qualifying miles with a minimum of 250 on Avianca
- Silver: 2000 qualifying miles with a minimum of 500 on Avianca
- Gold: 5000 qualifying miles with a minimum of 2000 on Avianca
- Diamond: 11,250 qualifying miles with a minimum 3750 on Avianca
- Meet Elite Status Criteria in 4 months.
- Conditions:
- Once in lifetime.
- Certain benefits like VIP Lounge entries, Upgrades, etc have been limited if you use the status match promotion.
- Official Link.
Delta Airlines Status Match Challenge
- Airline: Delta Airlines
- Alliance: SkyTeam
- Frequent Flyer Program: Medallion
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Eligible Airlines:
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- Alaska Airlines
- All Nippon Airways
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Copa Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- Jet Blue
- Lufthansa
- Qantas
- South African Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Australia
- Other airline elite status.
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 90 Days, extend by earning Medallion Qualification Dollars.
- If you enroll between 1 January and 31 December 2026, and complete the challenge, you keep the status until 31 January 2028.
- Elite Status Match Challenge Conditions:
- Earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).
- Silver: $1,250 MQDs
- Gold: $2,500 MQDs
- Platinum: $3,750 MQDs
- Usually, you earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on the ticket price for a Delta-marketed flight operated by Delta or by one of the partner airlines.
- Earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).
- Conditions:
- Available for members who have not registered for promotion in the 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.
- Complimentary or status earned through a promotion are not eligible for status challenge.
- Minimum 30 days old account.
- Non-US members should have flown Delta Airlines at least once in three years on a fare class higher than Basic Economy.
- Official Link.
JetBlue Status Match Challenge
- Airline: JetBlue
- Alliance: None
- Frequent Flyer Program: Mosaic
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Mosaic 1
- Mosaic 2
- Eligible Airlines:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Delta
- Frontier Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 3 Months, extend by earning tiles.
- Elite Status Match Challenge Conditions:
- Meet Elite Status Criteria in 3 months.
- Mosaic 1: 10 tiles to keep Mosaic 1
- Mosaic 2 : 25 tiles to keep Mosaic 2
- Upgrade to Mosaic 3 : 40 tiles to earn Mosaic 3
- 1 tile for every $100 spent on JetBlue flights (including many extras & fees) JetBlue Vacations packages TrueBlue Travel (cars, stays & more).
- Meet Elite Status Criteria in 3 months.
- Official Link.
United Airlines Status Match Challenge
- Airline: United Airlines
- Alliance: Star Alliance
- Frequent Flyer Program: MileagePlus Premier
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Eligible Airlines:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Delta Airlines
- Jet Blue
- Qantas
- Southwest Airlines
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status after Status Match:
- 120 days from Activating Flight. (You should take one activating flight on United or United Express within 90 days for application being approved. Flight in the past 30 days from application can also be considered as activating flight)
- Earned 2026 Premier status is valid through January 2028. The MileagePlus status is valid through January 2029 for customers who earn Premier status through this offer on or after January 1, 2027.
- Elite status challenge conditions:
- Meet Criteria:
- Silver: Fly 5 PQF and earn 1,700 PQP on flights operated by United or United Express
- Gold: Fly 10 PQF and earn 3,400 PQP on flights operated by United or United Express
- Platinum: Fly 20 PQF and earn 7,500 PQP on flights operated by United or United Express
- Meet Criteria:
- Conditions:
- Available for members who have who have participated in Status Match program within the last 3 years or received a Premier Status exception within the last 5 years.
- Complimentary status earned through a promotion is not eligible.
- Code Share flights are not eligible for this promotion.
- Official Link.
Virgin Atlantic Status Match Challenge
- Airline: Virgin Atlantic
- Alliance: SkyTeam
- Frequent Flyer Program: Flying Club
- Status Match Challenge Link: Submit Request
- Matched Tier:
- Silver
- Gold
- Eligible Airlines:
- Air Canada
- Air India
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- Iberia
- Lufthansa
- South African Airways
- United Airlines
- Eligible Hotel Elite Status: Not Eligible
- Validity of Elite Status:
- 12 months from the date your account is upgraded.
- Elite Status Match Challenge Conditions:
- Gold Status:
- One flight must be booked (future booking) in Premium Economy or Business Class on flight with VS flight number.
- Silver Status:
- Need one flight (future booking) in the economy or a higher cabin on flight with VS flight number.
- If you make a dummy booking and cancel later, you will lose status and be ineligible for future status matches. For changes, you need to contact the status match team to update them on the change in flights.
- Gold Status:
- Conditions:
- Available for members who have not registered for promotion in the last five years.
- You are not eligible to apply if you have elite status with other SkyTeam airlines.
- Official Link.
Airline status match or challenge with Hotel Elite Status
If you don’t have any elite status with an airlines, you could still be able to status match purely based on your hotel elite status.
| Airline | Available For | Highest Alliance Elite Status | Status Validity | Terms & Conditions |
| Air Canada | Marriott Titanium & Ambassador | Star Alliance Silver | 12 Months | T&C |
| United Airlines | Marriott Titanium & Ambassador | Star Alliance Silver | One Year | T&C |
| Singapore Airlines | Marriott Elites except Silver | Star Alliance Gold | 12 months after meeting conditions | T&C |
| Singapore Airlines | Shangri-La Circle Diamond and Jade members | Star Alliance Gold | 12 months after meeting conditions | T&C |
| Qatar Airways | Accor Elites except Silver | OneWorld Sapphire | 12 months after revenue flight | T&C |
Air Canada 25K Elite Status (Silver) Status Match for Marriott Elites
- If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite, you can receive an Aeroplan 25K Status (Silver).
- The validity of elite status will be 12 months.
- Check details here.
United Airlines Silver Elite Status Match for Marriott Elites
- If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite, you can earn a United Silver Status. This is possible through Marriott Airlines Preferred Partnership.
- The status is valid for the year in which it granted.
- You can register here for complimentary United Silver Status.
Singapore Airlines Status Challenge for Marriott Elites
- If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador Elite, you can earn Singapore Gold Status through the Marriott Airlines Preferred Partnership.
- The status is valid for the year in which it was granted.
| Marriott Elite Status | KrisFlyer Elite Status Match Available | Krisflyer Elite Status Through Accelerator | Accelerator Condition |
| Sliver Elite | NA | NA | NA |
| Gold Elite | NA | Silver | Two Flights in Six months |
| Platinum/Titanium/ Ambassador Elite | Silver | Gold | Four Flights in Six months |
- The status is valid for 12 months.
- You can register here for this promotion.
Singapore Airlines Status Match for Shangri-La Elites
- By linking their accounts, Shangri-La Circle Diamond and Jade members can get KrisFlyer Elite Silver Status.
- The Diamond & Jade members are instantly matched to Silver Elite Status.
- Diamond members can become Krisflyer Gold Elite if they travel once within four months of registration.
- Jade members can become Krisflyer Gold Elite if they travel thrice within four months of registration.
- The status will be valid for 12 months.
- Link account here and check conditions here.
- Available once.
- The promotion is only available if the member is not registered in another KrisFlyer status match programme.
Qatar Airways Status Challenge for Accor Elites
- You can link Accor accounts to a few airlines. However, once the account is linked, it cannot be unlinked for 12 months.
- One of the airlines that you can link to is Qatar Airways.
- The table shows the status match available for Qatar Airways members.
| Accor Elite Status | Qatar Airways Elite Status | Annual Limit Jan’25 to Dec’25 | Annual Limit Jan’26 to Dec’26 |
| ALL Gold | Privilege Club Silver | 5600 | 6600 |
| ALL Platinum/Diamond | Privilege Club Gold | 2600 | 3100 |
- Unlike other programs, you will become Qatar Airways Elite-only after taking one paid flight. However, your account should be linked.
- There are limited slots available (and reset every September), and they are only valid for one year.
Other Status Match or Challenge Promotions
A few airlines do not have official status match or challenge promotions. however still have unpublished status promotions.
Emirates Status Challenge Promotions
- Emirates will match most flag carrier airlines.
- Conditions:
- Take 2 Economy or Premium Economy Class (in Flex/Flex Plus), or
- Take a 1 Business Class or First Class return flight on Emirates.
- Award flights or cash-and-miles tickets are not eligible.
- Once completed, you will receive the status for 12 months.
- You will only be upgraded to the next tier. For example, if you have a blue tier with Emirates, you can only be upgraded to silver, irrespective of a higher elite status with other airlines.
- Request can be submitted via Emirates contact support or chat. They may also be contacted for exact details.
- You can also get an Emirates Silver or Gold membership if you hold an ICICI Bank Credit Card.
- Info Source.
Turkish Airlines Status Challenge Promotion
- You can status match to Turkish Airlines. The request for a status match needs to be submitted via feedback form.
- Conditions: Status Match for 4 months as a Trial.
- Within these 4 months, take one Turkish Airlines flight to extend it for another 8 months.
- During 1st year of elite status, earn 15K Turkish Airlines Tier miles to retain the status.
- 15K Miles is achievable if you fly Star Alliance flights.
- Info Source.
Airlines Status Match & Challenge FAQ’s
What is the difference between a status match and a status challenge?
A status match grants elite status directly, usually for a fixed validity period.
A status challenge provides temporary elite status, which can be extended only after meeting specific flight or tier requirements.
When does a status match make sense?
A status match makes sense if you have confirmed travel plans with a specific airline or alliance where elite benefits such as lounge access, priority check in, baggage, or seat selection will be used.
How should you choose which airline to status match with?
Choose an airline based on
• how often you will fly that airline or alliance
• where you will travel most
• how difficult it is to retain the status after matching
Avoid matching purely because an offer exists.
Why should you avoid applying for multiple status matches at once?
Many airlines restrict status matches to once per lifetime or once every few years.
Using a match without travel plans can permanently block better opportunities later.
Is a paid status match worth it?
A paid status match can be worth it if
• elite benefits will be used multiple times
• lounge access or baggage savings offset the cost
• the matched status can later be retained
If benefits will not be used, paid matches rarely make sense.
Bottomline
Several airlines are offering status match and challenge promotions in 2026. Make sure to apply based on your travel needs.
