Air France / KLM Flying Blue is out with a status match opportunity for US residents. While we’ve seen Flying Blue offer a status match for customers in other countries, One Mile at a Time reports that this is now available again for residents of the US and Canada.
Unfortunately, the match isn’t free, so whether it is worth considering will come down to how often you’ll be able to use the benefits. That said, it certainly could be worth it if you have a number of flights coming up where SkyTeam benefits may come in handy, and it could also be useful for a future match with another airline.
The Deal
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue is offering paid status matches to residents of the US and Canada.
- US Members can match to Silver for $99 or to Gold status for $199
- Canadian Members can match to Silver for CA$149 or to Gold status for CA$299
- Platinum status matches are not available for North American residents
- The following airlines are eligible for matches:
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air China PhoenixMiles
- Air India Flying Returns
- American AAdvantage
- Asiana Club
- British Airways Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- EgyptAir Plus
- Emirates Skywards
- Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles
- Etihad Guest
- Finnair Plus
- Gulf Air Falconflyer
- Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club
- Lufthansa Miles & More
- Oman Air Sindbad
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- South African Airways SAA Voyager
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- United MileagePlus
- Direct link to this deal
Key Terms
- Once eligible customers pay the application fee and are approved, they will and receive 12 months of Silver, Gold or Platinum** status as determined by the Status Match process.
- You must hold an elite airline status with an eligible airline listed in the eligibility table.
- The Status Match offer is only open to eligible residents that hold eligible airline status. You may be required to provide evidence upon application. Full list of eligible countries can be viewed here.
- You will receive status for 12 months upon approval. To retain your Flying Blue status beyond the initial 12-months, you must re-qualify based on meeting the published status program requirements.
- You will be informed within three (3) business days following your completed application of the requested information and documentation whether or not your Status Match has been approved. Once approved, your new status will appear on your account within (5) business days.
Quick Thoughts
With this match, US and Canadian members can match to Flying Blue Silver or Flying Blue Gold.
Flying Blue Silver key benefits:
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- One free extra checked bag on SkyTeam flights
- SkyTeam Elite status
- Free selection of standard seats
- Free seat options 24 hours before departure (I’m not sure what this opens in addition to “free selection of standard seats).
- Earn 6 Miles for each Euro spent
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Flying Blue Gold key benefits:
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- SkyTeam Elite status
- One free extra checked baggage item on SkyTeam flights
- Free access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest (conditions apply)
- SkyPriority: priority access throughout the airport
- Free selection of standard seats
- Free seat options 72 hours before departure (again, I’m not sure what this opens in addition to “free selection of standard seats)
- Earn 7 Miles for each Euro spent
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Either match could be useful even for someone who primarily flies on Delta because the SkyTeam benefits would mean that you’d qualify for an extra checked bag on SkyTeam flights, and as a Gold member, you’ll additionally get access to SkyTeam lounges and SkyPriority throughout the airport.
I don’t know for sure whether you can request to be matched to a lower tier than the max you are eligible for. For instance, if you have American Airlines Platinum status, that would match Gold. I’m unsure whether you’re able to request a match to Silver instead (since you may care about the free checked bag but not the lounge access / other Gold-level benefits enough to pay an additional $100).
That said, I’m not sure I’d consider a match to Silver, since I could get the Air France KLM Flying Blue Mastercard and earn enough XPs for Silver status, along with a welcome bonus, after meeting the minimum spend, at a cost of an $89 annual fee.
I am interested in the match to Gold as a way to match onward to another program in the future, but I’m not sure I want to invest $199 in Flying Blue Gold status right now. We’ll see.
Keep in mind that this match opportunity may close at any time, so if you’re interested, consider applying sooner rather than later.
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Will they match Alaska? Seems missing.
I filled out the form without making the purchase and it matched my United Platinum to Flying Blue Platinum. Are North Americans really excluded from Platinum level?
I don’t know that it matters that much, I did not see any compelling (for me) differences between Gold and Platinum anyway.
Isn’t the move to get the AF credit card and then do the status match a few weeks later but before the SUB is earned? Would then get you most of the way to FB Plat. Obviously risk is who knows how long status match is around for, but need the account anniversary points to post somewhat timely on the back end.
Waiting to get to BILT platinum status and then get Flying Blue Gold from that!
I think this is cheaper.
“Unfortunately, the match isn’t free” … welp, that’s an easy decision then.
Is it odd that Delta isn’t an option considering the relationship?
Not odd. Status matches typically exclude airlines within their airline alliance. Since Air France / KLM Flying Blue and Delta are in the airline alliance SkyTeam, then the likelihood of either offering a status match for each other is essentially zero.
Looks like this is back for US residents!
I’m pretty sure this has ended for U.S. citizens; or at least this one. I tried last month and again just now with both my wife and my accounts and we each get the same message: Offer expired or unavailable at your location.
Yup, this apparently ended 10/4/24 for the US according to the table of eligible countries I navigated to from the landing page. Was actually considering Gold because my home airport’s only lounge is Delta, but alas, not actually available.
I get the dreaded ‘cloudflare’ message no matter where I am using it from (browers, phone, different machines)
Is there an article that does a deep dive in status matching airline partners? Do I need to request Skyteam/Oneworld/Star status or is automatic. Or does my AF or AL status get me into lounges? Do I need a physical card? So many questions
AFAICT the 24/72 hours free seat options is for preferred (extra legroom/front of the plane) seats in the same class.
So if I do Gold, that lets me pick the extra-legroom seats on Delta, but not Comfort+?
KLM/AF only, not partners.
Got it, thanks.
.. but yes.
From the FAQs – “I am a top-tier member of an eligible airline loyalty program. Can I select a lower tier other than Platinum to Status Match into? If you hold eligible top-tier status with an airline that has tier-mapping into Flying Blue Platinum status, during the application process, you will be asked if you would like to be matched to Flying Blue Gold or Platinum**.”
Except. . . matches to Platinum are not available according to the article. . .
I have AF silver from Mastercard. Can I use it to match to any other program?
Is status obtained through a match eligible for this offer?
Another option for AF Gold, if you have Bilt Platinum status: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-adds-flying-blue-gold-status-match-for-platinum-members/