The first of the big membership poaches have been announced, with Flying Blue offering a paid status match for British Airways “The Club” members.
Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of Air France-KLM Group, and thus allows access to the SkyTeam network.
Whilst Flying Blue is matching up to 60 airlines at the moment via https://flyingblue.statusmatch.com/, we’ll be concentrating on the British Airways status match.
What will you need to start a status match?
You’ll need proof of your current status, proof of identity as well as a Flying Blue Membership number.
And you will also have a method to pay the £99 fee.
Providing everything is ok, it should take up to five working days.
What’s on offer?
For the starting number of £99, you can be matched to FlyingBlue statuses, and plan your escape from BA. Status is valid for 12 months when matched.
British Airways “The Club” Members can match to the following Flying Blue statuses at https://flyingblue.statusmatch.com/ba.
AIRLINE |
SILVER |
GOLD |
PLATINUM |
| British Airways
Executive Club |
BRONZE | SILVER | GOLD GOLD GUEST LIST PREMIER |
You cannot match your status to Flying Blue Ultimate during this promotion.
What does this match to in SkyTeam terms?
In a nice table, here’s the match of statuses
| Match from | Flying Blue Status | SkyTeam Status |
| BA Executive Club Bronze (oneworld Ruby) | Flying Blue Silver | SkyTeam Elite |
| BA Executive Club Silver (oneworld Saphire) | Flying Blue Gold | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| BA Executive Club Gold (oneworld Emerald) | Flying Blue Platinum | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
Note. There are other matches currently being offered. Check the terms and conditions to see which ones apply to you.
What does Silver/Gold/Platnim get you?
All the shiny cards – Image, Flying Blue
Silver offers some rather useful benefits (especially for those of you who travel with luggage)
- Earn 6 Miles for each Euro spent
- Priority access for check-in and baggage drop-off
- Free selection of standard seats
- Free seat options 24 hours before departure
- One free extra checked baggage item on Sky Team flights
Gold starts to add further features, including:
- Earn 7 Miles for each Euro spent
- Free access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest (subject to conditions)
- SkyPriority – priority access throughout the airport
- Free seat options 72 hours before departure
- Free selection of standard seats
- One free extra checked baggage item on SkyTeam flights
And Platinum:
- Earn 8 Miles for each Euro spent
- Lounge access with a guest
- SkyPriority – priority access at the airport
- Standard seat selection, free of charge
- Preferred Seat Options, free of charge
- Bring an additional baggage item on all SkyTeam flights
- Customer service line
A line-by-line benefit chart is at https://www.flyingblue.com/en/programme/more-info/tier-benefits. It’s worth your while to check what you’re looking for – and what you expect for your status.
Who are the SkyTeam members?
As of January 2024, the current membership includes:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeroméxico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- ITA Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudia
- Scandinavian Airlines
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- XiamenAir
What about renewals?
Flying Blue uses the XP scheme to allow you to retain your shiny bits of plastic. This is the science bit… or the bit you need to get the spreadsheets out about your flying style and how much XP you will need to earn fly.
You will need:
- Silver = 100 XP
- Gold = 180 XP
- Platinum = 300 XP
You’ll need to get your calculators out and see if you can retain your Flying Blue status after 12 months. There’s a lot more to digest at https://www.flyingblue.com/en/programme/more-info/status.
Terms and Conditions and other things?
Most of the information you need will be at https://flyingblue.statusmatch.com/ba. You can find the Terms and Conditions there, along with a FAQ.
As usual with Statusmatch.com matches, it is open for a period – but can close at any time.
Kevin’s Thoughts – If the network is right, it’s worth a punt.
I know a lot of my readers as well as the general populous who qualify for British Airways loyalty out of their own pockets are still angry and are somewhere on the Kubler-Ross Change curve.
We’ve all been through the shock, denial, frustration and depression stages (and back as well no doubt). But now is the time to consider the experiment and decisions to move forward.
It boils down to how you use your frequent flyer programme:
- What’s your aim (is it lounges, luggage, or prestige)
- Does the airline offer a network that meets your needs?
- How hard is it to earn the status?
- How hard is it to retain the status?
- Do you use credit cards to add points or status?
- What rewards do you want?
If you live in the regions of the United Kingdom and want to avoid Heathrow airport like the plague (and instead change to Paris, Amsterdam or Copenhagen), it is certainly a good option – you’ll be getting extra XP for those spoke-to-hub flights, as well as the main earning segment of your flight.
Even if you’re London-based, there are plenty of SkyTeam airlines that fly out of Heathrow to provide a one-seat ride to a lot of locations worldwide (and most are available with a change (with Virgin Atlantic being a home member too).
There have been reports of Air France-KLM raising redemption prices, and if this is a big part of why you’re moving, it’s worth thinking about.
My thoughts are this – with a risk factor of £99 for a possible year of status – what have you got to lose at this point, especially if you’re unhappy with BA and the actions it has taken to make you spend more? And by more – a lot more.
I’m diving through the T&Cs (like you all should) – but I am extremely tempted at this point of the game.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.