Etihad Airways is currently offering a unique status match deal. However, this opportunity is only available to residents of Australia and India. Please note, changing your address won’t do the trick. You will need to provide an ID card from either of these countries to apply.
The arrangement is a paid status match that includes a challenge for extending the status. Here’s how the process works:
- You submit your application for a status match on the offer page here.
- If approved, you’ll receive the corresponding frequent flyer status in the Etihad Guest Program within 5 business days, which is valid for three months.
- The received status can be extended for an additional year by taking at least one Etihad-operated flight that has an Etihad flight number and earns at least 1 Etihad Guest Mile into your account within the validity of the upgraded tier.
To qualify for Etihad Guest Silver, you typically need 25,000 Tier Miles or 20 Tier Segments and for Etihad Guest Gold, you need 50,000 Tier Miles or 40 Tier Segments.
Airlines Acceptable For Status Match.
Status Match Fee
Applying for this offer does come with a fee: US $59 for Silver qualifying applicants and US $99 for Gold applicants. This fee likely deters those who have no real intention of flying with Etihad or their partner airlines from applying.
Key Benefits For Etihad Silver and Gold Members
Etihad Guest Silver members enjoy lounge access in Abu Dhabi, 10 kg or one piece excess baggage allowance, priority check-in and free select seating options in addition to 25% extra Tier Bonus Miles.
Etihad Guest Gold members enjoy worldwide lounge access for themselves and a guest, priority boarding and check-in, 15 kg or one piece excess baggage allowance, fast track immigration, 50% extra Tier Bonus Miles, free select seating options for themselves and one guest, chauffeur service (Business and First redemption seats), as well as a dedicated contact centre.
You can find complete details about all Etihad status benefits here.
Conclusion
Etihad Airways is providing a paid status match for elite members of several other airlines exclusively to residents of Australia and India. This status match lasts for three months initially but can be extended by another year if you take at least one paid Etihad flight.
