Virgin Atlantic expands status match offer to more loyalty programs

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is offering the frequent flyers of a long list of competing programs the chance to give its elite status a try.

If you have top-tier status in a number of airline loyalty programs, you’re eligible to partake in Virgin Atlantic’s latest status match. Virgin Atlantic is matching to either its Gold or Silver status, depending on the elite status you currently have.

Related: The ultimate Virgin Atlantic Flying Club guide

Here’s how the match works. If you have top-tier status with one of the below airlines' loyalty programs, you’ll get Gold status with Flying Club, and if you have a second-tier status with one of the below airlines, you’ll get matched to Flying Club Silver status. Here’s the eligible list:

• Air New Zealand Airpoints: Gold and Elite Plus
• Alaska MVP: MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k
• American Airlines Advantage: Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum
• British Airways Executive Club: Silver and Gold
• Cathay Pacific Marco Polo: Gold and Platinum
• El Al Matmid: Gold and Platinum
• Emirates Skywards: Gold and Platinum
• Etihad Guest: Gold and Platinum
• Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles: Gold and Platinum
• Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings: Gold andPlatinum
• Iberia Plus: Oro and Platino
• Lufthansa Miles and More: Senator and Hon Circle
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: Gold and Platinum
• Qatar Privilege Club: Gold and Platinum
• Scandinavian Airlines Eurobonus: Gold and Diamond
• Singapore Kris Flyer: Silver and Gold
• South African Voyager: Silver, Gold, and Platinum
• Swiss Miles and More: Senator and Hon Circle
• Turkish Miles&Smiles: Elite and Elite Plus
• United Mileage Plus: Premier Platinum and Premier 1k
• Virgin Australia Velocity: Gold and Platinum

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In order to match your status to either Flying Club Gold or Silver status, you’ll need to submit proof that you have current top tier or second-tier status on another airline, and already have a revenue (i.e. cash fare) flight booked with the Virgin Atlantic in any cabin for Silver, and in Premium or Upper Class only for Gold.

If you meet the criteria and are interested in giving Flying Club a test drive, here’s how to register for the status match. Firstly, be sure you already have a Flying Club membership. Then, submit your status match request at this special landing page, including:

• Your applicable airline’s frequent flyer program statement, showing the program, status level, and expiration date.
• Your Flying Club membership number.
• Your future Virgin Atlantic booking (you'll need to have this booked before making the status match request).

With Silver, flyers can expect to earn 30% more Virgin Points on flights, a premium check-in experience, free seat assignment in Economy Light, and more. In 2022 it requires you to earn 300 Tier Points.

With Gold status, flyers earn 60% more Virgin Points on flights, UpperClass check-in, access to Virgin’s Clubhouses, extra luggage allowance, and more. In 2022 it requires you to earn 800 Tier Points.

If you’re successfully matched, your status will be valid for 12 months from the date your account is upgraded (which should be within 30 days of the request to match). You’ll need to earn tier points in order to retain your status past the 12 months — 800 tier points for Gold or 300 tier points for Silver.

To avoid someone matching their status, booking a revenue flight, and then canceling their booking, Virgin is reserving the right to revoke the matched status.

“Virgin Atlantic reserves the right to revoke the status match if you subsequently cancel the flight that made you eligible for the status match,” the airline clarified to TPG.

Related: Pelotons and planespotting: Inside the reopening of Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow Terminal 3 and refreshed Clubhouse

Bottom line

This status match offer is both generous in terms of the long list of programs they will match with and restrictive in that to achieve the valuable and useful Gold status including access to the fabulous Virgin Clubhouses, you must have a cash fare booked in Premium or Upper Class. This will mean only those who plan to spend some serious money with Virgin can take advantage of the offer.

There's currently no end date for the status match promotion — though Virgin Flying Club reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time, so if you plan to take advantage of the offer don't delay. Get your documents ready and head to this link.

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson