Get a full year of lounge access and other Star Alliance Gold benefits with this status match offer

For nearly a year now, Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal has offered a status match opportunity to elite status members of several popular airline loyalty programs. Although this was launched last year when travel was still on the back burner for many, as pointed out by One Mile At a Time, registration is still open.

Status matches are a way for airlines and their associated loyalty programs to entice prospective customers to shift their spending. With this example, TAP Air Portugal will match your existing status to encourage you to fly with it so you can start enjoying status benefits immediately, rather than having to earn status slowly by flying a lot. If you meet a certain threshold during the period you hold the matched status, such as flying a certain number of miles or flights with TAP, your matched status will be extended.

TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go status match offer

TAP Portugal's Miles&Go loyalty program is currently offering to match the following statuses, some of which are popular with U.S. travelers.

You'll notice there are no Star Alliance members on the above list. That's because airlines typically offer matches to members of competing airlines and programs, not their existing partners. It's also worth mentioning that there are other programs TAP will match from. Be sure to check out the full list.

Related: What are hotel and airline status matches and how do you get one?

How to request a status match

To take advantage of this offer, you will need to:

• Sign up as a member of TAP's Miles&Go program;
• Register for the status match opportunity at this link;
• Submit a photo of your existing elite status in the above programs, which shows your name, loyalty number, status level and expiration date;
• Once this has been completed, you will be informed if you are provisionally approved. You must then either pay for Club TAP Miles&Go (starts at $125 and provides you with bonus Miles&Go miles when traveling) or purchase at least $88 of Miles&Go miles in the program.

Once you have completed all the above steps, your new Miles&Go elite status will be yours to enjoy within 15 days, and it will be valid for 12 months. If you fly four flights with TAP Portugal and earn 25,000 Status Miles in the program (i.e., by crediting Star Alliance flights to the program), your Gold status will be extended by a further 12 months. This is half the normal re-qualification requirements.

Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming TAP Miles&Go

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Benefits of TAP Air Portugal elite status

Here are the benefits you can expect as a TAP Miles&Go elite member

TAP Air Portugal Silver status (Star Alliance Silver status)

• 25% bonus miles on TAP flights
• Priority check-in, security, and boarding
• Free seat reservations
• Lounge access when traveling on international TAP flights
• Priority wait-listing and priority standby on Star Alliance partner flights

TAP Air Portugal Gold status (Star Alliance Gold status)

• 50% bonus miles on TAP flights
• Priority check-in, security, and boarding
• Extra baggage allowances
• Lounge access whenever traveling on a Star Alliance flight (including domestic United flights)
• Up to 40% off a companion award ticket
• Free Economy Xtra seat assignment
• Waived service charges and fees for some changes
• The ability to gift Gold status (not available to those who have status matched)

Related: The best credit cards to jump-start elite status

Bottom line

Status matches are usually awarded at no cost, though for this offer, you will have to spend at least $88 for your match to be approved. While there are plenty of benefits to be enjoyed with Star Alliance Gold, like increased mileage earning, lounge access and extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, luggage and boarding, Star Alliance Silver comes with few benefits.

Because of that, a Silver match is unlikely to warrant the minimum cost. Although this won't help fulfill the requirements, keep in mind that through May 31, Capital One is offering 5,000 bonus miles on your first transfer to TAP Portugal Miles&Go.

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.