Vietnam Airlines, a SkyTeam member airline, is currently offering a status match opportunity. While it’s a paid offer and has some geographic restrictions, it’s cool that the carrier is matching all the way up to top tier status.
This could be a worthwhile option for unlocking SkyTeam elite status perks. I want to post a reminder of this — the offer has been around for quite some time, and it’s anyone’s guess how much longer it will be available. With the upcoming changes to SkyTeam lounge access, perhaps this will be even more useful to some than in the past.
In this post:
Basics of Vietnam Airlines’ status match promo
The website statusmatch.com is partnering with Vietnam Airlines’ Lotusmiles program to offer a status match promotion. Vietnam Airlines is a SkyTeam 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:
- Vietnam Airlines is matching to Lotusmiles Titanium status (SkyTeam Elite) at a cost of $59-99, to Lotusmiles Gold status (SkyTeam Elite) at a cost of $199, or to Lotusmiles Platinum status (SkyTeam Elite Plus) at a cost of $299
- 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
- Status matches are available from nearly 50 different frequent flyer programs, and you can find the full list of eligible programs here
- 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): Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA
Is this Vietnam Airlines status match worth it?
Obviously this promotion could be useful if you’re someone who has a lot of travel on Vietnam Airlines coming up. If you’re curious about Lotusmiles elite perks, you can find them on this page. The elite perks aren’t anything to get too excited about.
This is primarily a way to get priority services, like business class check-in, lounge access, and boarding, plus an additional baggage allowance. Vietnam Airlines doesn’t offer elite upgrade perks, or any other benefits that are overly exciting or generous.
Perhaps the biggest upside here is that Lotusmiles Platinum status would unlock SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which offers priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, extra baggage, lounge access, and much more, when flying with any SkyTeam airline.
Just keep in mind that SkyTeam Elite Plus only offers lounge access on international itineraries, so you wouldn’t get lounge access when traveling exclusively within the United States on Delta. However, as of April 2025, SkyTeam is improving lounge access policies, and will offer access on some domestic itineraries.
So I wouldn’t say this is the most exciting status match opportunity we’ve seen, but maybe it’s worthwhile for some. The question just comes down to whether you value SkyTeam Elite Plus status for a year at $299 or more.
If you are going for a SkyTeam status match, personally I’d consider the Air France-KLM Flying Blue status match that’s available. However, that has more geographic restrictions, which is why the Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles offer will be better for some.
Bottom line
There’s a status match promotion with Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles, which can earn you SkyTeam Elite Plus perks. There’s an application fee of up to $299, which is steep. So I don’t think this offer is a no-brainer, or anything, but if you do have status with SkyTeam, this could be worth considering.
Do you plan on taking advantage of this Vietnam Airlines status match opportunity?
Is there any chance to match Vietnam Airways Status to any other Airlines’ plan?
I want to go to Vietnam but I’m not making 3 stops to go somewhere as an American flyer based in Houston. I miss IAH LGA. If they ever got rid of IAH LAX that would suck but good riddance the eagle nest in LAX is an annoyance. Then they try to pull that 1hr2min connection time on a flight with a 66% on time performance.
What are you talking about?
EVA, Air France, Turkish, Emirates, Qatar, and United+ANA, can all get you from Houston to Vietnam (both HCMC and Hanoi) in 1 stop.
When he said "American flyer" , he meant American Airlines flyer... hence why the reference to "Eagles Nest" which is one of the American Airlines terminals at LAX...
I know. Its not very clear, but the commenter is limiting themselves to 1 airline then complaining about having to make many connections ahahaha
I read it that way too, and wondered why he was even commenting in a thread about a Sky Team airline. So, take up the option and fly one stop on AF. One stop wish granted! He has a one stop option on a oneworld airline too, so what is there to complain about anyway? Oh, the drama!
Thanks for that.
I guess I never factored in someone being illogical enough to limit themselves to one carrier, then cry about number of stops, even though there's an alliance partner in that market who'll do the route in full codeshare (and even let you book the whole thing on AA's website).
I would strongly suspect that there will be additional match opportunities over the upcoming weeks for former ITA members, which literally gifted status to anyone that raised a hand, so probably its pointless to spend 200-300USD here.
The least premium alliance!
Ironic how I can now get another year of SkyTeam elite plus from my LH senator status which I acquired from the status match from SAS. Moved all my travel to LH, have not regretted it