United Airlines Status Match Campaign

It is usual for airlines to match each others statuses as long as the match is from a competing alliance. Airlines tend not to match from their alliance partners i.e. United won’t match status from Lufthansa as they are both in Star.

United has long had a status match program and they have just updated the terms and conditions of this program. You can read more about this challenge on United’s website.

The following requirements are valid for matches done between January 1 and January 31, 2013. It is unclear, at thus time what the requirements are going to be later in the year and if United is going to change the match requirements from time to time.

Have you matched with United recently? How long did it take and what status you used for the status match? Leave a comment below.

The highest United typically matches is their Platinum status. They have, however, matched Delta’s Diamond members all the way to Premier 1K that has required 35K PQM’s (premier qualifying miles) within 90 days after being approved for the challenge.

The easiest way to apply for the challenge is to email your competing credentials to premiermatch@united.com

• To be considered for Premier status through this promotion, please send the following information to:

  • Email: premiermatch@united.com
  • Fax: 605-343-4104
  • Mail: Mileage Plus Service Center
    Attn: Premier Status Match
    P.O. Box 6120
    Rapid City, SD 57709-6121

• Your MileagePlus account number. If you are not already a member, join today.

• Your name, complete current mailing address and email address

• A copy of your most recent mileage summary or 2013 membership card that clearly identifies your current elite level in the frequent flyer program you are matching from.

You are likely to hear from United in about a week after applying for the challenge.

Timing of the status match

These are the current requirements for the status challenge. It may be lucrative to wait until later in the year. If you qualify for status match on/or after July 1^st, the status is ten valid all the way to 2015. The key here is that nobody can be sure what the status match requirements are going to be later this year.

Conclusion

Status matched are useful when used correctly. There is no harm accelerating your status with the airline if you are planning to fly with them enough to fulfill the challenge.

I got started with United ten years ago by matching my British Airways status to 1P. I did fly with United a lot for quite a few years and made a lifetime (my or United’s?) Premier Executive/Premier 1P status with the airline.