Elites From 11 Airlines Can Now Apply for a Virgin Atlantic Status Match

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has long offered a status match that lets travelers who have elite status with other airlines match to the equivalent Virgin Atlantic elite tier. Today, the airline updated its list of eligible airlines to include 11 major airlines.

Depending on your existing status, you could use this match to either Silver or Gold status if you meet a handful of requirements. However, you will need to fly Virgin Atlantic to keep your status.

The airline also announced that it’s giving 5 members who match their status to Virgin Atlantic 1,000,000 bonus miles. However, only U.K. residents are eligible for this offer. Thankfully, there’s no residency requirement for the status match itself.

Here’s what you need to know.

Get Virgin Atlantic Elite Status in a Few Clicks — But You’ll Need a Booked Flight

Members of American Airlines, United, and a host of international airline frequent flyer programs are eligible to match their status to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. This list of airlines just grew substantially, so it’s worth checking if your elite status is newly eligible for a match.

Elite status from the following airlines is eligible for a Virgin Atlantic status match:

• Air Canada
• Air India
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Emirates
• Hawaiian
• Iberia
• Lufthansa
• South African Airways
• United Airlines

To receive your shiny new Virgin Atlantic status, head to Virgin’s status match form and provide the airline with some information. The first requirement is easy: provide a photo or screenshot of your current airline status.

Now, for the catch: you also need to prove that you have an upcoming Virgin Atlantic flight that has your Virgin Atlantic number attached — booked in any cabin class — to match to Silver. If you’re shooting for top-tier Gold status, you’ll need a flight booked in premium economy (Premium) or business class (Upper Class). Revenue and award tickets are eligible.

Your new Flying Club status will be upgraded 72 hours before your qualifying flight and will be valid for 12 months from the date your status is upgraded. You’ll be eligible to retain your new status when you earn 1,000 Tier Points as a Gold member or 400 Tier Points as a Silver member.

However, if you’ve previously done a Virgin status match, you won’t be eligible to participate in the promotion again. Likewise, members who have had Flying Club elite status in the past 5 years are not eligible for this status match.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Elite Status: What Do You Get?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has 2 elite status tiers: Silver and Gold.

Silver benefits include 30% more Virgin Points on flights, premium check-in, and free seat selection with “Economy Light” (basic economy) fares.

Gold members receive 60% more Virgin Points, Upper Class check-in, access to Clubhouse and London Heathrow Revivals lounges, and extra checked luggage.

Final Thoughts

Status matches are a great way to be rewarded for the time and money you’ve spent earning your airline status with a particular airline — especially when it costs you nothing to do so.

While Virgin’s latest status match is technically free, the necessity to have a flight booked adds a layer of complexity. If you are not a regular flyer and would have to arrange a flight specifically to be eligible for this status match, you will most likely not benefit from Silver or Gold status.