Link: Apply for a status match with Royal Jordanian Royal Club
Royal Jordanian, a oneworld member airline, has a lucrative status match opportunity, which could be a great way to get oneworld Sapphire benefits. The offer has residency requirements, and unlike a couple of months ago, it’s not open to those in the United States. That being said, if you are a resident of an eligible country, there’s now an exciting update, as Royal Jordanian is offering to match elite status with hotel groups.
If eligible, this is an easy way to get oneworld Sapphire status, which offers business class priority perks (check-in, lounge access, boarding, etc.) for oneworld airlines.
In this post:
Basics of Royal Jordanian’s status match promo
The website statusmatch.com is partnering with Royal Jordanian’s Royal Club program to offer a status match promotion. Royal Jordanian is a oneworld member, and this could be valuable even if you don’t typically fly with the airline. A few basics to be aware of, to start:
- For airline status matches, Royal Jordanian is matching to Silver Jay status (oneworld Ruby) at a cost of $49, or to Gold Sparrow status (oneworld Sapphire) at a cost of $149
- For hotel status matches, Royal Jordanian is matching to Silver Jay status (oneworld Ruby) at a cost of $49, or to Gold Sparrow status (oneworld Sapphire) at a cost of $199
- The status match request should take just a minute to complete, though it can take up to five business days for the request to be approved
- There’s no published end date for this promotion, though it can be pulled at any time
- Matched status is valid for a period of 12 months from when the match is approved
- This promotion is only valid for those who reside in the following countries (and you must have ID documents, like a passport or driver’s license): Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and UK
Which status is Royal Jordanian matching?
Royal Jordanian is matching status from airlines and hotels, and you can find a chart with how status maps over here. Specifically, Royal Jordanian is matching the following airline status:
- Air Canada – Aeroplan
- Air Europa – SUMA
- Air France – Flying Blue
- EgyptAir – Plus
- Emirates – Skywards
- Etihad – Guest
- Gulf Air – Falcon Flyer
- Kuwait Airways – Oasis Club
- Lufthansa – Miles & More
- Middle East Airlines – Cedar Miles
- Saudia – Alfursan
- Scandinavian Airlines – EuroBonus
- TAP Air Portugal – Miles&Go
- Turkish Airlines – Miles&Smiles
- Virgin Atlantic – Flying Club
- WestJet – WestJet Rewards
As you can see, this includes many non-oneworld airlines, in particular airlines in Europe and the Middle East.
On top of that, Royal Jordanian is also matching the following hotel status (and exclusively through December 8, 2025, select tiers match to Gold Sparrow):
- Accor – ALL
- GHA – Discovery
- Hilton – Honors
- Hyatt – World of Hyatt
- IHG – One Rewards
- Langham Hotels – Brilliant
- Marriott – Bonvoy
- Melia – Melia Rewards
- Preferred Hotel Group – Prefer Hotel Rewards
- Radisson – Radisson Rewards
- Shangri-La – Golden Circle
- Wyndham – Wyndham Rewards
Why is this status match opportunity useful?
Obviously this promotion could be useful if you’re someone who has a lot of travel on Royal Jordanian coming up. Beyond that, though, the main reason to consider this promotion is because of the value of oneworld Sapphire status. This status offers perks like priority boarding, priority check-in, and extra baggage allowance, on all oneworld airlines.
If you have oneworld Sapphire status with a non-US frequent flyer program, you could even access American Admirals Clubs or American Flagship Lounges whenever traveling on a oneworld airline, even if you’re traveling domestically.
American AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos Rewards elite members only get lounge access on select international itineraries, while oneworld Sapphire members with foreign airlines get lounge access even on entirely domestic itineraries. Getting access to American’s premium lounges even when traveling domestically is awesome.
If you’re an American flyer and are eligible, taking advantage of this opportunity is an absolute no brainer, as it’s one of the best deals you’ll get on premium lounge access. Of course this requires also having status with another airline, and the residency requirements also mean that many Americans won’t be eligible for this offer.
Let me clarify one other point — at least with American, there’s no need to actually credit your flight to a program in order to gain lounge access through it. So you could still credit your flight to American AAdvantage, and then at the entrance to the lounge, you’d just provide your Royal Jordanian Royal Club credentials. Alaska is a bit trickier with this, and generally will only grant lounge access based on the frequent flyer information that’s on your boarding pass.
My Royal Jordanian status match experience
A couple of months ago, this Royal Jordanian status match was also open to those who are United States residents. So at the time I applied for a status match, and I’d like to share my experience with that.
American is the airline I fly most, so I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to earn oneworld Sapphire status with a foreign airline, and upgrade my lounge situation on domestic itineraries. Of course if you’re not yet a member of Royal Jordanian’s Royal Club, the first step is to enroll in the program, which is straightforward.
Then you need to request the status match, which can be done at this link. On the first page, you have to enter your first and last name, Royal Jordanian Royal Club account credentials (email address and membership number), and primary country of residence.
You’ll then be asked which loyalty program you want to match status from.
I used my Air France-KLM Flying Club Platinum status, so I had to enter my account number, and upload proof of my membership. Interestingly, this included taking a picture of the physical membership card, or taking a picture of my computer screen while logged into my account.
The next page confirmed the status I’d be matched to (Royal Club Gold Sparrow), and asked me to pay the $149 application fee.
I then immediately received confirmation that my application had been submitted…
…and 30 minutes later, I received an email confirming that it had been approved.
So yeah, status match applications don’t get much easier or faster than that.
Bottom line
There’s a status match promotion for Royal Jordanian Royal Club status, which can earn you oneworld Sapphire perks. There’s an application fee, but that’s not a lot at all when you consider the potential value of this promotion.
If you’re a oneworld flyer and are eligible (in terms of residency requirements), I’d highly recommend taking advantage of this. Pathways to oneworld Sapphire don’t get much easier than this, especially when you consider that you can even match your hotel elite status.
Do you plan on taking advantage of this oneworld status match opportunity?
Flying with OH but they are on separate PNRs. Guessing the will not be able to benefit from my Gold Sparrow match? Can I still guest someone into lounge or do they have to be on same PNR? Thanks
I’m from Switzerland so I mostly fly BA, IB and for long hauls tend to end up with QR or CX. But I want to credit my miles on BA/QR only. So if I need to credit on RJ in order to enjoy the benefits, I don’t really see the point of applying for this match?
The real benefit of these status matches is that you don't have to pay for checked bags. Way better deal than the airline credit cards. I fly Stockholm ARN-NYC a lot, and there are tons of $400 round-trip basic economy fares. I did the Kenya Airways match and, for $99, got SkyTeam Silver, which gets free checked bags worth $150 RT. Will do this one too. Cheaper than getting the AA credit card for checked bags.
Would OW Sapphire with RJ get me access to AA Main Cabin Extra? At booking? At checkin?
Answering my own question: no it won’t.
So it’s $149 for Group 3 boarding and preferred seating - but not MCE. Would help with checked bags, but of course I never check bags.
I have BA silver with lounge access but losing the status next April.
As I'm based in Madrid and flying Iberia a lot, does it make sense to do a status match of my Accor gold to get the lounge access on one world airlines for a couple of months after i lose my BA status ?
I am an expat resident in one of the Gulf countries, so I am eligible for this offer, but I am not very inclined to the offer. Other than unlimited lounge access in the US mentioned in the blog, I really don't see much benefits for only a year-long status with a fee of $199. From the Gulf, I fly low-cost airline for short distance (2-3 hour at max) and fly in business class for a longer distance (more than 4 hours) anyway..
Damn. My BA Gold is expiring in April but I live in the US and BA is not one of the carriers they’re matching. Humpf!
Im HH Gold through Amex platinum - would this loophole work for the status match?
Yes to Silver Jay.
AA is obviously going to follow suit with AS and CX and require your frequent flyer program number to be on the boarding pass for lounge access and not allow changes after check in. Writing is on the wall tbh.
@ Chris D -- I'm not saying it won't happen, but why would you assume that? If you access a oneworld lounge based on elite status, the airline with which you have the status foots the bill, not the operating airline. So American makes money when someone enters its lounges based on Royal Jordanian status.
Damn the lack of star alliance status matches with the sensational deals with the new 359 air india
I assume you have to enter some sort of foreign address? I have a Spanish passport but live in the U.S.
@ Michael -- Generally you have to enter your country of residence, provide proof of your identity, and confirm you're a resident of a certain country. However, if I'm not mistaken, you don't actually have to enter an address.
What IF did they require from you.
Thanks
RJ once again not knowing which markets it serves and just printing the list of EU states they fly to. So people living 800 km from the nearest RJ destination are eligible, while us who live 40 km from it are not. Morons.
Last December I flew JFK-AMM-DXB. I was particularly impressed by the transit experience at AMM. I got off the plane and I was through security and in the OneWorld Lounge in less than 10 minutes...