ITA Airways is offering a generous status match, including expired elite status

A new status match opportunity offers SkyPriority benefits on SkyTeam alliance flights like those operated by Delta Air Lines, and, in a unique twist, you can even match your expired status.

Italy-based carrier ITA Airways, which took over operations from former Italian national carrier Alitalia, is offering a status match to elite status members on two dozen airlines, including American Airlines.

You have until Aug. 19 to submit a request for ITA Airways to recognize the same elite status in its Volare frequent flyer program that you enjoy on another eligible airline. Processing times can take up to 60 days.

What is ITA Airways?

ITA Airways is owned by the Italian government and is based in Rome. It began service after replacing Alitalia, which had been in bankruptcy since 2017 and was later nationalized by the Italian government early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, and it announced codeshare agreements with several major international airlines, including Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM.

ITA Airways operates direct flights between Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Dulles International Airport (IAD), Miami International Airport (MIA) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It also has an extensive short-haul network across Europe.

Related: A review of ITA Airways business class on the A330neo from Rome

What is ITA Airways' status match?

ITA Airways has invited elite status members of 19 other airlines to apply for a status match in its frequent flyer program, Volare. The eligibility applies to elite-status members of SkyTeam and non-SkyTeam partners, including programs popular in the U.S. like American AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Emirates Skywards. You can view the full list of eligible programs here.

This status match promotion requires elite members to first sign up for Volare membership and complete a status match request form, which involves uploading proof of their status on another airline. You will not be eligible for this status match if you have previously requested a Volare status match, as the program has offered status matches in the past.

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What makes this status match even more generous is that while you would normally need to hold current elite status to be considered for a match to another program, ITA's Volare program will match expired statuses provided they expired no earlier than January 2023.

So even if your elite status expired 18 months ago, you could still match that status to ITA Volare.

If approved, the status will be valid through Dec. 31, 2025, and matched members will receive 10,000 Volare status qualifying points toward renewing or upgrading their status beyond that date.

Related: Current airline elite status match and challenge options

ITA's elite levels 

ITA has four levels within its Volare frequent flyer program, although the initial Club Smart is just entry-level (where everybody starts when they join). The Club Plus level is where SkyPriority benefits through SkyTeam begin to kick in. Members of Club Plus get priority boarding and baggage delivery, additional baggage allowance and check-in privileges at airport business-class counters.

Above Club Plus is Club Premium, and then Club Executive, where lounge access comes in. Each of these two levels is SkyTeam Elite Plus.

Depending on your status with an eligible program, ITA will match up to top-tier Club Executive status in the Volare program; for example, for American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key elite members.

SkyTeam elite status benefits

A big reason this status match initiative will be intriguing for customers of other airlines, especially in the U.S., is the opportunity to use the status match at ITA Airways to gain SkyTeam elite status. As a reminder, SkyTeam has two status levels: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus.

Related: Best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability

SkyTeam's website says that once a flyer earns elite status in one member airline's program, you become a SkyTeam Elite member, recognized across all 20 carriers in the alliance. That makes this initiative a unique opportunity for elite members of other airlines' frequent flyer programs to gain elite benefits when flying on SkyTeam flights, including Delta.

SkyTeam Elite Plus status (Volare Club Premium and Club Executive) offers the following perks:

• Guaranteed full-fare Y-class reservation on sold-out long-haul flights at least 24 hours before departure
• Access to airport lounges worldwide, whatever the class of travel, for members with a boarding pass, plus a guest
• Priority baggage handling on arrival, whatever the class of travel
• Extra baggage allowance

ITA Airways operates its lounges in Rome and Milan Linate Airport (LIN). Additionally, ITA's website specifies the airport lounges that its members can access, including multiple Delta and Air France lounges in the U.S. and Europe. Generally, SkyTeam first-class, business-class and Elite Plus members traveling internationally have lounge access if they're flying with an airline member of the alliance.

Lufthansa Group is set to acquire ITA Airways later this year. The airline will join Lufthansa's Miles & More loyalty program and, per the news release, transition from SkyTeam to Star Alliance. With the status match valid until December 2025, it's unknown at this time if the SkyTeam status will be converted to Star Alliance elite status.

Bottom line

This is a very generous status match offer from ITA Airways, though the list of programs you can match from excludes some heavy hitters like Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.

A status match lasting around 18 months, including matching statuses that expired any time after Dec. 31, 2022, is a great opportunity for elite status in a SkyTeam program with little effort required.

This status match opportunity is available through Aug. 19 only, so don't delay if you want to take advantage of it.