How I Plan To Use the Gift of ITA Airways Volare Status To Score Status With Star Alliance

Updated: December 1, 2024, 6:00am CST

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How I Gained Free SkyTeam Elite Plus Status
How Volare Executive Members Can Gift Premium Status
SkyTeam Elite Plus Benefits
Star Alliance Gold Benefits
Final Thoughts

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The European Union recently cleared Lufthansa to buy a 41% stake in Italian flag carrier ITA Airways, setting a path for ITA’s exit from the SkyTeam alliance and entry into the Star Alliance. This prompted me to realize that I was sitting on a golden opportunity to enjoy elite status in both alliances, all thanks to a status match my husband initially signed up for.

I’ll explain more about a niche benefit of ITA’s Volare Executive status that could give you an easy path to Star Alliance Gold elite status in 2025. Andiamo!

How I Gained Free SkyTeam Elite Plus Status

In March 2022, my husband matched his nearly expired United MileagePlus Premier 1K status to ITA Airways Volare Executive, which is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus. He received a snazzy welcome kit in the mail and has yet to utilize his status in the program, though it continued to be renewed in 2023 and again in 2024.

Encouraged by a Loyalty Lobby article on the topic, I realized that one of the benefits of his membership was that he could gift 1 Volare Premium status, which is the second-highest Volare tier and also carries SkyTeam Elite Plus status. Since I currently live in a Oneworld hub (Doha, Qatar) and don’t often fly SkyTeam carriers, I haven’t put much thought into actually pursuing the status.

When Lufthansa was approved to bring ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group, the opportunity to maximize status immediately sparked my interest. The acquisition is expected to finalize in 2025, and when that happens, SkyTeam Elite Plus status from ITA Volare Premium will likely convert to Lufthansa Miles & More Senator status (and thus Star Alliance Gold status). With my family potentially relocating to Houston (a Star Alliance hub dominated by United) in 2025, the idea of status just got a little sweeter.

Hot Tip:

Until ITA Airways leaves SkyTeam, you can earn Delta SkyMiles and Medallion Qualification Dollars on its flights. In business class, you’ll earn up to 175% of the distance flown as SkyMiles and 20% as MQDs.

How Volare Executive Members Can Gift Premium Status

To gift the Volare Premium membership, my husband first logged on to his ITA Airways account. He then scrolled to the bottom of his account page to find the Additional Club Card box. He then clicked GIFT and entered my first and last name and Volare account number.

ITA additional club card full page — Image Credit: ITA Airways

I instantly received an email confirming the Volare Premium status through January 2026 and verified that the new status was reflected in my online account.

ITA email confirmation — Image Credit: ITA Airways

SkyTeam Elite Plus Benefits

With my new SkyTeam Elite Plus status, I’ll have access to benefits like:

Priority check-in, boarding, baggage, standby, and security/immigration lanes
Extra baggage allowance
SkyTeam lounge access
Preferred seating

These are great perks, but considering I primarily fly out of Doha (DOH), my opportunities to utilize them are limited. I’d be able to take advantage of the status on flights with SkyTeam carriers Garuda Indonesia, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Saudia, and Xiamen Airlines, but I don’t have any future plans to fly with these airlines.

Star Alliance Gold Benefits

Lufthansa is expected to roll Volare members into its Miles & More loyalty program, meaning my Volare Premium status would ideally convert to Miles & More Senator status (Star Alliance Gold).

Star Alliance Gold status carries a similar set of benefits, such as:

Priority check-in, baggage handling, boarding, reservations waitlist, and airport standby
Extra baggage allowance
Star Alliance lounge access
Gold Track priority lanes through security and immigration

Delsey luggage with Star Alliance priority tag — Star Alliance Gold elites enjoy priority baggage handling. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

I am most looking forward to using that Star Alliance Gold membership to access United Club locations at my soon-to-be-home airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Unlike having United MileagePlus Premier Gold status, which requires elites to be traveling on an international flight, Star Alliance Gold members can access the United Club when departing on a domestic or international flight. This would considerably expand my lounge options at IAH.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve successfully matched your status to ITA Airways Volare Executive, take advantage of the opportunity to give a friend or family member the gift of Volare Premium status. Doing so allows them to enjoy a few months of SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits before likely transitioning to Star Alliance Gold status.

Are you looking for a Volare Executive member who is sitting on the gift of status? Consider asking fellow travelers in our Level UP Facebook Group!