Italian flag carrier ITA Airways has just launched a new status match opportunity, and it has the potential to be pretty useful.
ITA Airways currently belongs to SkyTeam, so this is a way to get SkyTeam Elite Plus status. However, Lufthansa is in the process of taking over ITA Airways, at which point the airline will join Star Alliance, and will use Lufthansa Miles & More as its frequent flyer program. So this will be a chance to eventually potentially get Star Alliance Gold status, and in particular, Miles & More Senator status.
In this post:
ITA Airways Volare status match details
Through Monday, August 19, 2024, the ITA Airways Volare frequent flyer program is running a status match campaign. Specifically, the airline is offering status matches from 19 different airline loyalty programs. Note that you can’t take part in this if you’ve taken advantage of a status match with the program in the past.
How does the status match work? To start, if you’re not yet a member of the ITA Volare program, you should first register. Once you’ve done that, log into your account, and you should see a button for requesting a status match. If your status match is approved, your status will be valid through December 31, 2025 (the end of the year after which you match).
Here are the 19 airline frequent flyer programs that ITA Airways Volare is matching (and obviously you’d need to have some status in order to match — just being a member isn’t enough):
- Aegean – Miles+Bonus
- Aer Lingus – AerClub
- Air China – Phoenix Miles
- American Airlines – AAdvantage
- British Airways – Executive Club
- Emirates – Skywards
- Etihad – Etihad Guest
- Finnair – Finnair Plus
- Iberia – Iberia Plus
- LATAM – LATAM Pass
- Malaysia Airlines – Enrich
- Oman Air – Sindbad
- Qatar Airways – Privilege Club
- Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
- TAP Air Portugal – Miles & Go
- Thai Airways – Royal Orchid Plus
- Turkish Airlines – Miles & Smiles
- WestJet – WestJet Rewards
As you can see, many SkyTeam and Star Alliance airlines are excluded from this offer, presumably reflecting ITA Airways’ current and future alignment. What’s interesting is that the terms suggest that you have to show that you had status with an expiration date no earlier than January 2023, in order to match from it.
Based on that, even status that has expired for nearly 18 months would be valid for this. Strange… I’m not sure if that’s a typo on ITA’s part, or intentional.
Should you request an ITA Airways Volare status match?
Status matching with ITA Airways Volare is an interesting opportunity, especially given the transition the airline is currently going through. To start, let’s go over the basics of the elite perks that ITA Airways Volare offers for travel on ITA Airways:
- ITA Volare Plus is the entry level elite tier, and offers priority waitlisting, free ancillary services, dedicated customer service, and business class check-in
- ITA Volare Premium is the middle elite tier, and offers lounge access, 24/7 dedicated customer service, priority boarding, and a dedicated onboard reception
- ITA Volare Executive is the top elite tier, and offers free checked golf equipment, lounge access (including with a guest), food & drinks free of charge, invitations to exclusive events, and a dedicated reception
Honestly, the benefits aren’t too exciting. Perhaps the more interesting opportunity here is the alliance-wide benefits that are offered.
ITA Airways currently belongs to the SkyTeam alliance, so the carrier’s higher elite tiers offer SkyTeam Elite Plus status. This provides valuable alliance-wide perks like priority services, lounge access on international itineraries, and more.
But Lufthansa is in the process of acquiring ITA Airways, at which point the airline is expected to adopt Miles & More as its frequent flyer program, and should join the Star Alliance. That means ITA Airways status might eventually be converted into Star Alliance Gold status, offering all kinds of valuable perks when traveling with Star Alliance status.
Furthermore, if you can get Miles & More Senator status, that will allow you to unlock first class awards in advance on both Lufthansa and SWISS, which is a cool opportunity. However, actually earning Miles & More miles isn’t easy, given that the program doesn’t partner with major transferable points currencies.
My ITA Airways Volare status match experience
Back when ITA Airways Volare first launched, I took advantage of a status match opportunity. So let me share my experience from then, even though it’s possible the process has changed since then. I first had to register for the ITA Volare program, which was a straightforward process.
After entering some basic information I was signed up, and just had to click a link in an email to complete the registration.
The next confirmation email contained a link directly to the status match page.
Note that when you register for the ITA Volare program you aren’t initially issued a frequent flyer number. That’s not an issue, as that’s not even needed to request a status match. At that point I emailed [email protected] with this very basic info:
- Email subject: “program of origin” – “status of origin”
- Body text: name; surname; “program of origin”; “status of origin”
- Attach a legible copy of your current valid frequent flyer card (digital or physical) and a copy of your ID card (pdf format, jpg)
At first I screwed up because I just sent a screenshot of my American AAdvantage Executive Platinum account. My physical Executive Platinum card is expired, so I figured that wouldn’t work. That was rejected, but then I remembered that I could access a digital elite card through the American Airlines app, so I sent a screenshot of that. A day later I received confirmation that I had been matched all the way to the Executive tier.
Bottom line
ITA Airways is offering a status match campaign for elite members of other frequent flyer programs. This is valid through August 19, 2024, and then status should be valid through December 31, 2025.
This is an interesting opportunity to score SkyTeam elite perks now, and then potentially score Star Alliance elite perks as of later this year or early next year.
Do you plan on requesting an ITA Airways Volare status match?
Where is the section in my ITA Volare account to sign up? I cannot find it anywhere.
I tried matching with Aegean Gold - the stupid website doesn't let me upload passport pic and my gold card copy. It's less than 2MB and keep getting "Invalid File" message.
Mostly star and one world listed there.
Interesting if you want to get the future star alliance benefits
Is there anyone who requesting completed with singapore airline(SQ)?
Everysingle time, requesting with SQ,
*red error code box pop up above, requesting was not completed.
*red error code : ,"headers":,"ok":false,"statusText":"Server Error","errorType":"fetchResponse"}
same
Same - looks like ITA is has an error with the form and it's actually not accepting status matches. Ben - any email you could suggest to reach out to them to report the bug?
Same - I tried emailing [email protected] as well and got what seems like a bot reply:
Dear Client,
Unfortunately, since the Status Match campaign ended last 03/10/2022, we are unable to satisfy your request to access directly one of the program’s Exclusive clubs.
If you are not already a member, join the ITA Airways Volare loyalty program now!
Visit ita-airways.com for detailed information on the Volare program.
Kindest regards
Status Match team
Tried the same. I just selected another airline and gave them my SQ card.
I was getting the same, but just tried again and it's now gone through. Maybe they fixed it?
what is the turnaround time for those who got successfully matched?
sucks they aren't matching Alaska...
I applied through the email you mentioned in the post, but got a quick response like ‘ Unfortunately, since the Status Match campaign ended last 03/10/2022, we are unable to satisfy your request to access directly one of the program’s Exclusive clubs.’
Yes i tried that too i m still not able to select and upload getting error
yes, same here
email gets a automated response that the campaign expired and the web sends me an error code
I also got the rejection using the email method. Submitted using the form when I login (after setting up OTP)
I matched this first time around to executive. Didn’t think much of it until recently. Was helpful on a family trip when we flew KLM and had access to their lounges in Munich and Amsterdam. I was able to gift status to my daughter so the whole family could get in. She is attending college in Europe and this will come in handy during her travels.
I don't have any use for ITA status, but maybe I will have use for it in 2025 once they transition over to Star Alliance.
At the same time, anyone know how I can get a digital card of my KrisFlyer card that showed my KrisFlyer Gold status that had expired in March 2024? Right now, my KF digital card show KrisFlyer Silver....
If it's expired and you didn't screenshot it before, impossible. Maybe contact KF CS?
I did the status match first time, and none of the other Skyteam airlines recognised the status. Was a waste of time.
When ITA rose from the ashes, crediting flights and recognition of tier status was an issue. It's interesting that it's still an issue.
They have never fully integrated into Skyteam but you can get access to Skyteam benefits with AF-KLM, Delta, Aeromexico, Aegean, Virgin, MEA, Saudia and a few other Skyteam members. Checkout their partners page, it shows the airlines where you could get reciprocal recognition of your status.
@Eve, Aegean/A3 is Star Alliance, not SkyTeam.
My mistake, I meant Air Europa
https://www.loyaltyprogram.ita-airways.com/en_gb/airline
My ITA status has been recognised by KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and Garuda Indonesia
The biggest perk of executive status, is that you can gift Volare Premium to someone.
Damn wish it wasn't restricted to first timers. Anyone try for a second match and have success?
I matched whenever they did that last time, what is it, like 18 months ago? I'm still Executive club and Skyteam Elite Plus. Go figure. Thanks for sharing.
I matched last time but never used it for anything.
Can I create a new account with different email and phone number and match again to AA EXP?
So there's no challenge just automatic status for 18 months?
i am trying to do this but i keeps giving me error like server error.. so much for technology
Matching from AA was giving me an error, then tried matching from BA and no issue. Just FYI
What did they match you to using BA? Thanks
Same here. Did you figure out a workaround by chance?
It’s not even letting me upload documents, I keep uploading but there is nothing. anybody know how to work around this?
I could not get American or BA to work. Kept getting an error message. It's obviously a glitch. But I randomly selected Air China and it went through. Hopefully it will be clear to the person who processes the request that the ID card I attached is American EP.
The same here. has anyone succeeded?
Tried using Singapore Airlines， and also getting the error messages
I am still
Not able to let me know anyone else had success the email startegy didnt work either
I just flew them from Rome to Tokyo and had a great experience in business! The soft product was pretty good and I would fly them again to Asia.
I ended up at FCO a bit too early, and had to spend 5+ hours at the lounge, while the food and drinks are pretty good, the lounge itself is small and lacks in facilities!