Through May 7, US/Canada Residents with status on select airlines can match their status to British Airways Silver or Gold as follows:
Status will last for 6 months, but can be extended to the end of the next membership year if you fly on 2 paid transatlantic flights marketed by British Airways in business or first class and flying on AA, BA, Finnair, or Iberia within the 6 months period. The flight must depart from North America. HFP reports that 1 round-trip flight will qualify for this requirement and that upon qualifying for Gold for the rest of the year, you would receive a soft landing to Silver status for another year and then Bronze status for a subsequent year if you don’t requalify.
British Airways Silver comes with OneWorld Sapphire status. While AA/Alaska OneWorld Sapphire elites don’t receive lounge benefits on domestic flights, BA OneWorld Sapphire elites do and can access Alaska and AA lounges, including business class lounges, AA flagship lounges, business class checkin, and the JFK Greenwich lounge, even when flying on domestic AA or Alaska flights. You’ll also earn 50% bonus Avios on flights, free seat selection, 2 free 70 pound bags, get priority boarding, priority baggage handling, and more.
British Airways Gold comes with OneWorld Emerald status. While AA/Alaska OneWorld Emerald elites don’t receive lounge benefits on domestic flights, BA OneWorld Emerald elites do and can access Alaska and AA lounges, including first class lounges, arrivals lounges, first class checkin, and the JFK Soho lounge, even when flying on domestic AA or Alaska flights. You’ll also earn 100% bonus Avios on flights, free seat selection, 2 free 70 pound bags, get priority boarding, priority baggage handling, expedited security, expanded Avios seat availability, and more.
Notably, you can’t match from AA or Alaska to BA, as they are both part of OneWorld. You can match Delta or United via a status match challenge, or you can match to Virgin Atlantic if you haven’t had status with them in the past and have an upcoming Virgin premium cabin flight booked with cash or miles.
Will you match your status to BA?
HT: HFP
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9 Comments On "US/Canada Residents: Match Elite Status From Select Airlines To British Airways For Premium Lounge Access And Much More"
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No, the “paid” flight req. is a killer.
As an aside why do AA UA treat their elites Worse than partner Elites when it comes to lounge access?
Because they want to sell paid lounge memberships, which is unique to the US.
Yeah…avoid anything involving Virgin Atlantic and their “”published rules”” like the plague…
They’ll blacklist you for DARING to change your flight plans.
No recourse.
No appeals possible.
Permanently.
Go ahead. Ask me how I know 🙂
How do you know?
Virgin premium class even on miles will qualify to complete the match?
no it will have to be a paid ticket
Read the updated terms…
All you have to do is book and travel on two qualifying transatlantic flights (one round trip) within six months of the date we upgrade you.
To qualify, these flights must:
Be a British Airways-marketed flight in business (Club World) or First
Be operated by British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia or Finnair
Originate from the US, Canada or Mexico
******Fly to the UK and onwards to Europe****** – what does this mean?
Be eligible for earning Tier Points and collecting Avios
i have flying blue air france silver status, can use that to upgrade my ba status? and how do i do that?