Earlier this year, Air France KLM Flying Blue announced a status match opportunity offering Canadians with Aeroplan Elite Status or WestJet Rewards Elite Tiers (amongst others) the opportunity to match to Flying Blue Elite Status.
Recently, the status match was expanded to include residents in the US and Mexico, albeit with some restrictions.
If you’re eligible, this can be a great opportunity to enjoy extra perks when flying with Air France, KLM, and other SkyTeam airlines for the next year, or to potentially book Air France La Première with miles.
Matching Status with Flying Blue
A Flying Blue status match opportunity was announced on the Industry Leaders Panel discussion at The Travel Summit 2024 by Ben Lipsey, SVP of Loyalty and President of Air France KLM Flying Blue.
The status match offer is available for residents of Canada, the UK, the US, Mexico, and a handful of European countries who have status with the following airlines:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Finnair
- Iberia
- JetBlue
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
- WestJet
Depending on your level of status, you’ll be matched to Flying Blue Silver, Gold, or Platinum status; however, Platinum status matches aren’t available for residents of the US or Mexico.
This status match opportunity is available exclusively on the Status Match website, and you’ll have to pay the following fees to match into Flying Blue status tiers if you’re based in Canada:
- Silver: $79 (CAD)
- Gold: $199 (CAD)
- Platinum: $399 (CAD)
If you’re based in the US, Mexico, the UK or Europe, you’ll have to pay a different fee, which is listed on the Status Match website.
Once you’re approved, you’ll enjoy Flying Blue status for 12 months. If you’d like to extend the status further, you’ll have to fulfill the standard status requirements.
After submitting the application, you’ll hear back within three business days about your request; however, you may also be asked for further documentation.
As per the terms and conditions, you’re only eligible for one Flying Blue status match, which means that you won’t be eligible for any future status matches. Therefore, you may want to use this strategically, rather than opportunistically.
This offer is limited in terms of the number of status matches available, and it comes with no listed end date and may end at any time.
Flying Blue Silver, Gold, and Platinum Benefits
As a reminder, Flying Blue has four elite status Tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Ultimate.
Through this status match offer, it’s not possible to match to the top-tier Ultimate status, but you can still get some great perks with the other three.
If you have Aeroplan 25K or WestJet Silver status, you’ll be matched to Flying Blue Silver, which offers the following benefits:
- Earn 6 Flying Blue miles per euro spent on Air France & KLM flights, as well as selected extra options
- Priority check-in, baggage drop-off, and boarding
- Free selection of standard seats
- Free seat options 24 hours before departure
- One free extra checked bag on eligible flights
You’ll also enjoy SkyTeam Elite status at the Silver level, which comes with the following perks when flying in any class of service with a SkyTeam-member airline:
- Priority reservation waitlist
- Preferred seating
- Priority check-in counters
- Priority boarding or at leisure
- Extra baggage allowance
If you have Aeroplan 35K or 50K status, or WestJet Gold status, you’ll be matched to Flying Blue Gold status, which comes with the following perks and benefits in addition to what’s offered at the Silver level:
- Earn 7 Flying Blue miles per euro spent on Air France & KLM flights, as well as selected extra options
- Free access to select lounges worldwide with a guest (conditions apply)
- SkyPriority priority access throughout the airport
- Free seat options 72 hours before departure
- Free selection of standard seats
- One free extra checked bag on eligible flights
Gold status with Flying Blue is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which grants you the following benefits when flying with a SkyTeam-member airline:
- Guaranteed full-fare Y-class reservation on sold-out long-haul flights, at least 24 hours prior to departure.
- Access to airport lounges worldwide, whatever the class of travel, for members in possession of a boarding pass accompanied by a guest.
- Priority baggage handling on arrival, whatever the class of travel
- Extra baggage allowance
Of the above benefits, the best perks are having access to lounges when travelling in any class of service, priority airport services, and an increased baggage allowance.
Keep in mind that these benefits apply when flying in any class of service with SkyTeam airlines, which can be very useful if you travel in economy.
If you have Aeroplan 75K or Super Elite status, or WestJet Platinum, you’ll be matched to Flying Blue Platinum status, which comes with the following incremental benefits:
- Earn 8 Flying Blue miles per euro spent on Air France & KLM flights, as well as selected extra options
- Enjoy complimentary access to select lounges across the globe for you plus one guest
- SkyPriority priority access at the airport
- Choose a standard seat when you buy your ticket, free of charge
- Benefit from preferred seat options, free of charge
- One free extra checked bag on eligible flights
- Waived service fees for changes on award flights
- Enjoy 24/7 access to the exclusive Platinum Service Line
Recall that as a Flying Blue Platinum member, you can also redeem Flying Blue miles for Air France La Première, which otherwise isn’t accessible with points or miles.
If you’re eligible for this status match, consider the cost associated with the application, which is different than other status matches which are free. On the plus side, you’ll enjoy status for a full 12 months, which is a longer duration than other status match opportunities.
To me, the sweet spot here is matching to Flying Blue Gold status, since it offers SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which can be leveraged for lounge access when flying with SkyTeam airlines in any class of service.
Many others with Aeroplan 75K or Super Elite status have taken advantage of the status match, and then have gone on to book a dream flight in La Première, which is certainly worth considering.
Conclusion
Air France KLM Flying Blue has an ongoing status match opportunity, which is available to residents of Canada, the UK, the US, Mexico, and select countries in Europe who have status with select airlines.
If you’re eligible, head to the Status Match website to submit your request. There’s no end date for this offer, so be sure to act soon if you stand to benefit.
Then, once your status match request is complete, you can enjoy elevated travel with Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam airlines for the next 12 months.
Hello T.J. !
Thank you very much for this article.
However, I am confused about the following:
1. The article first states: “you’ll have to pay the following fees to match into Flying Blue status tiers if you’re based in Canada: Silver: $79 (CAD), Gold: $199 (CAD), Platinum: $399 (CAD)”
2. The article later states: “If you’re eligible for this status match, consider the cost associated with the application, which is different than other status matches which are free. On the plus side, you’ll enjoy status for a full 12 months, which is a longer duration than other status match opportunities. ”
Hence two problems:
a) Are the silver, gold, and platinum status matches free or do they cost 79 to 399 CAD? If there is a price to pay, asking for a status match is worthly only if you have a nearly immediate use for it, not just “in case”…
b) Aren’t all 4 status matches for a full year?
Or maybe there are two kinds of status matches?
Thank you for lighting up my lantern with your answers!
Most status match opportunities come without a cost, but you usually only enjoy status for a shorter amount of time unless you complete some paid flying activity to extend it. The required flying activity to extend the status is typically much lower than the standard requirements.
With this offer, there’s a cost, but you get to enjoy the status for 12 months. After that, you need to fulfill the regular requirements to maintain your status.
Some people with Aeroplan 75K and Super Elite status, as well as WestJet Platinum, are using this as an opportunity to book Air France La Premiere with Flying Blue miles, which you can only do with Flying Blue Platinum (or above) status.
If you status match platinum, don’t you get status for 36 months (12 platinum, 12 gold, 12 silver) through the downgrade mechanism?
May go for silver just for seat selection, may give me a leg up. Can’t believe the prices on this airline for seat selection, $90-200 for economy. The future on AC and WJ no doubt.
Following up on my comment and have to say the status match is very slow, verification took days to be request and then days to be processed. not sure I’ll have the match before my flight this week, so much for 3 days mentioned here – they are saying even after all documentation is in it may take up to 5 business days.
Any status is better than no status at all. You never know, but maybe the next time there was a cancellation, and airlines will for sure prioritize those with status over those without status. So you made a good decision!