HOW TO KEEP YOUR SEAT AT THE FRONT OF THE PLANE
|If you are a very frequent flyer who has built up enough mileage credit with one airline to qualify for some of the perks, such as priority boarding, seating with extra leg room, and free luggage allowance, you realize that these additional services improve the over-all quality of your flight experience.
But, what happens if you have to switch your business to a different airline? Do you have to start all over again at zero to try to qualify for your usual perks?
Actually, most major carriers will allow you to apply for a Status Match to transfer your loyalty to them, if you have a record of very frequent travel in the minimum range of 50,000 miles per year.
Here is how to apply for a Status Match.
- Contact the frequent flyer department for the airline you are requesting a Status Match on. They will provide the email address, fax number, or mailing address to forward your information.
- You will need to send your old frequent flyer number with the latest mileage statement showing your elite status level, your new frequent flyer number with the current airline, along with your full name, mailing address and email address.
- You will be notified by email about being confirmed for temporary matching status.
- United requires the following travel levels to retain this status, although the protocols are probably similar on most airlines. If you are confirmed as a 50,000+ miles per year flyer, you will have 90 days to fly 12,000 miles or 15 segments to retain Gold status. As a 100,000+ miles per year flyer, you would be expected to fly 35,000 miles or 40 segments in 90 days to retain 1K status on United.
To keep your preferred seat at the front of the plane, it is important to hang on to that painfully earned status, even if you shift to another airline.
Good luck and good flying!