Alitalia still offering SkyTeam status match to BA Silver and Gold
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Given that it is two months since I first mentioned this, it is worth a reminder. Alitalia is currently offering a status match to British Airways Executive Club Gold members as well as other top-tier and middle-tier status holders with other airlines.
This is, presumably, part of the relaunch of the airline under the pseudo control of Etihad. Etihad has recently outlined its plans for turning around the struggling carrier and a willingness to match status cards from other airlines – a technique which Etihad Guest has used aggressively – is a way of getting people to try it.
The scheme
The Alitalia frequent flyer scheme is called MilleMiglia. There are four elite levels.
As a BA Gold, you should expect to be matched to Freccia Alata Plus. This level is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus which is the equivalent of oneworld Emerald.
As a BA Silver, you should expect to be matched to Freccia Alata. This is ALSO considered to be SkyTeam Elite Plus. This means that you would get worldwide lounge access with SkyTeam except on US domestic flights with Delta.
Why you should do this even if you never fly Alitalia
Alitalia is now a member of two airline alliances.
The formal membership is with SkyTeam. Your Freccia Alata Plus card would get you top tier privileges, including lounge access (except on domestic Delta flights in the US, I think), with the following airlines:
- Aeroflot
- AerolineasArgentinas
- AeroMexico
- AirEuropa
- Air France
- Alitalia
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- China Southern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- MEA
- Saudia
- Tarom
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Air
Alitalia is also a member of Etihad Airways Partners. This is not yet finalised, but the eventual plan is that a status holder with any of the following airlines – all of which have received equity investment from Etihad – will have reciprocal privileges with the others.
- Etihad
- Jet Airways
- airberlin
- Air Serbia
- Air Seychelles
- Etihad Regional
Alitalia also has partnerships with GOL, Malaysia and Qantas but I’m not sure if they offer any benefits for Alitalia top tier cardholders.
There is another reason to get a match. You never know when there might be an opportunity to match your Alitalia status to a different Star Alliance or oneworld airline!
How do I get a status match?
You need to email a scan of your British Airways Gold card and your MilleMiglia account number, so you need to open an account first, to statusmatchmillemiglia@alitalia.com.
Here are the rules:
You have until December 2015 to ask for a match
The match will last until March 2016 UNLESS your existing status card shows an expiry date beyond March 2016. If it does, your matched card will be issued until March 2017.
ANY elite status card from an airline which is not part of the SkyTeam alliance will be accepted
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