Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program is offering premium status to US travelers

flying blue, Air France-KLM loyalty programare providing a generous Online status match for elite members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines Advantages, JetBlue TrueBlue Rewards And United Airlines MileagePlus programs.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles elite members are excluded from this offer, possibly because Delta is an Air France-KLM SkyTeam member.

The following statuses will be compared to Flying Blue Silver (SkyTeam Elite): Alaska MVP and MVP Gold, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 1 and 2, and United Premier Silver.

If you hold the following statuses, you can be placed in Flying Blue Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus): Alaska MVP 75K and 100K; American Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key; JetBlue Mosaic 3 and 4; and United Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K and Global Services.

Note that unlike status comparison challenges offered by other airlines, US and Mexico residents must pay. It will cost $99 to be matched to Flying Blue Silver status or $299 to be matched to Flying Blue Gold status.

What are the benefits of Flying Green Silver and Gold status?

Status match provided by airlines occasionally trying to entice frequent travelers on competing airlines to transfer their business to another airline while giving them a head start toward their superiority goals my own.

Unfortunately, Flying Blue Platinum status, with Air France’s famous ticketing capabilities, does not La Premiere first class with miles, this matching offer is not available to residents of the United States and Mexico.

Related: 10 things that surprised me about Air France’s incredible La Premiere first class cabin

Flying Blue Silver is the lowest level of Flying Blue elite status and includes several basic benefits:

• 6 Flying Blue miles per euro spent on tickets issued by Flying Blue
• Free standard seat selection
• Priority check-in and boarding
• SkyTeam Elite benefits (the most notable SkyTeam Elite benefit is free checked baggage on all Flying Blue and SkyTeam partner flights)

Flying Blue Gold members have access to Flying Blue Silver benefits as well as:

• 7 Flying Blue miles per euro spent on tickets issued by Flying Blue
• SkyTeam lounge access on international flights operated by Flying Blue or SkyTeam airlines (applies to you and your guests)
• Access to partner lounges on airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Qantas and Air Mauritius
• SkyTeam Elite Plus (benefits like SkyPriority boarding, expedited immigration and more)
• 50% discount on preferred seats and Delta Comfort+

Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming rewards with Air France-KLM Flying Blue

We are big fans of Flying Blue at TPG, even without elite status, as the program is a transfer partner of every major credit card currencymakes earning Flying Blue miles easy and you can book business class flights to Europe for just starting prices 50,000 Blue milesThat’s an incredible deal.

To register for the match, you must have a valid Flying Blue account (can be open free online). A decision will be made within three business days and the new status will appear in the member’s account within five business days.

Once matched, Flying Blue status is valid for 12 months. To maintain your status, you must qualify by meeting Flying Blue’s standard qualification levels; there is no short path to the extended state in the right amount of time.

Remember, while status matches offered by other programs are often free, US and Mexico residents pay $99 for Silver status or $299 for Gold status.

Bottom line

This is a generous, albeit unusual, offer from an airline loyalty program. However, requiring members to pay to match their status – when other programs will do this for free – may turn some members off. However, if you have an upcoming flight with Air France-KLM or other SkyTeam member airlines such as Delta, Korean Air or China Eastern Airlines, especially international flights, this could be a great time to try out the perks of another loyalty program.

You can apply to participate in the Flying Blue status match online here.