Flying Blue Status match returns for UK Residents

So it’s been… just over 12 months since British Airways did the dirty on its Club members, even though there has been a little backtrack. And most of us have a view if we are on track to retain our frequent flyer status with British Airways.

Or not in some cases.

Well, a new lifeline has been launched, with a paid status match with Air France-KLM’s frequent flyer programme – Flying Blue. 

The link to start the match is at https://flyingblue.statusmatch.com/.

For British Airways “The Club” Members who are resident in the United Kingdom, three options are open to you:

• Flying Blue Silver – Matches British Airways Bronze – £79
• Flying Blue Gold – Matches British Airways Silver – £149
• Flying Blue Platinum – Matches British Airways Gold – £249

What does Silver/Gold/Platinum 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
• Xiamen Air

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.

Connectivity

If you’re Heathrow-centric, SkyTeam airlines normally are based around the Terminal 4 complex (with certain exceptions being in different terminals). Notably, SAS operates out of Terminal 2, whilst Virgin and Delta operate out of Terminal 3. This does have lounge implications, which may limit your access to certain lounges

If you live that is somewhere other than London (as does a majority of those who reside in the United Kingdom), KLM and Air France beat British Airways hands down for connectivity into their hubs (with both of them taking the place of the regional connections to london, and instead, you needing to go via Amsterdam or Paris – with 19 connections in total.

For those who hate going down to London just to catch a flight, this could be valuable.

Kevin’s Thoughts – It’s worth it, but consider your travel patterns, as well as your 2027 strategy

My views are going to be a little different, as I’m coming from the lens of a British Airways Silver Member (I haven’t been a BA Gold since 2015), and based outside London.

It’s a tempting offer – get instant status for 12 months with another airline. But you are going to have to balance that out with a change of travel patterns and value calculations

And again, your thoughts will matter depending on your travel patterns and if you’re prepared to switch hubs

• If your status is expiring and you need a lounge/luggage allowance: Apply, and you’ve got a new airline group to play with. Just ensure you can meet the XP requirements.
• If you are building status with another airline, but need something to tide you over: Apply. At worst, it’s going to be £149 down the pan, but it will give you options whilst you build out your new love life.
• If you’re a BA Member in the regions – Consider Applying. You might get over going through Heathrow (but going through Paris CDG or Amsterdam Schiphol isn’t exactly a cakewalk either).
• If you can make what BA is asking of you in spend :- Good on you. I flew an Economy and Premium Economy flight on BA/AA late last year. The results were… laughable, barely hitting 1/10th of what I need to retain Silver… even with their boosted tier point offerings. As such, I’m clearly not in their customer demographic any longer.
• If your corporate travel budget is paying: You won’t care. You’ll just be worried they’re not paying enough to keep your shiny card.

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