ASMR for me has nothing to do with the sound of someone crunching a mid-flight Air France crouton. No, it’s all about the airline status match reality I’m currently facing. Prepare your small violins for this one.
In my last post, I mentioned about how Emirates was quite open to the idea of a status match, as long as you had some Emirates flights booked. Truthfully, I find that quite reasonable. At least it would show that you have some desire to actually fly with them.
And overall, they’re one of the few carriers with which I’ve had overall decent flights. Useless baggage claim staff at Dubai DXB, and depending on the aircraft, sometimes there’s a rubbish seat configuration up front, but the in-flight entertainment is vast, and the planes generally land. Fine.
Hopping west across the pond, let’s briefly mention a very different airline. Last year, my airline status match reality reached its apex with Spirit. That’s right, the United States’ aviation analog to a punching bag. (Shouldn’t it be JetBlue?) They cooked up a status match challenge. In other words, earn a certain amount of status qualifying points, then that 3-months of gifted status will turn into much a longer period. By the way, if you are inclined to research what Spirit is up to for 2024, here’s the waitlist.
Returning to the 2024 airline status match reality, I’ve got a new L to post — SAS, aka Scandinavian Air System. But I had a hunch this one was doomed from the get-go.
Why? Later this year, they will be leaving the Star Alliance, the one it helped establish, to join SkyTeam. So long, United. さようなら, ANA. Bye, Felicia.
Nevertheless, I sent an e-mail to SAS to inquire about a status match.
The prompt response read thus:
Delta also told me to get bent, but with good reason. Apparently, I had already tried out their status match challenge within the past three years. In other words, rendered ineligible.
At this point, I just started searching for airline + status match. Maybe Independence Air has one going on. Of course not. But finally, I hit upon something with Etihad.
Hmm, can’t say I’m their biggest fan, but they’ve got a good network, and a new airport terminal in Abu Dhabi AUH. Cooking with gas, right?
Wrong. According to their Etihad Guest status match FAQ, this (paid) opportunity is only available for residents of Australia and India.
Ah, well, Guess I have to be glad to ITA Airways is still paying it forward.
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