ITA Airways, Italy’s troubled flag carrier, has recently announced a new status match offer for its Volare frequent flyer program, which has been drawing considerable attention. Following Alitalia’s closure, ITA Airways has taken the helm and officially joined the SkyTeam alliance. For those who haven’t previously applied for a status match with ITA Volare, this new opportunity extends eligibility to members of 19 other airline loyalty programs.
To match your status with ITA’s Volare program, you must not reside in Italy and must be a member of the Volare program, which you can join on their website. Once logged in, you can request a status match within your account. You must hold an elite status (above the basic level) in one of the 19 eligible programs. Additionally, the status on your competing airline loyalty card must not have expired before January 2023, and you’ll need to submit a photo of this card or a screenshot from your member area on the competing airline’s website. If approved, you should receive your new membership card and status within 60 days. The status match offer runs through August 19, 2024.
The 19 eligible airline programs for this status match include notable names such as Aegean Miles+Bonus, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, and Emirates Skywards, among others. Once matched, your status will be valid through December 31, 2025, providing more than a year of benefits.
With ITA Airways being a member of SkyTeam, status holders can enjoy reciprocal benefits when flying with other SkyTeam members such as Delta, Air France, and KLM. The benefits vary by tier in the Volare program. For instance, Plus tier members receive business class check-in, priority boarding, and additional baggage allowance, while Premium members enjoy lounge access and fast-track security. Executive members gain all these perks plus a 30% points bonus per euro spent and guest privileges at lounges.
However, an interesting twist lies ahead as Lufthansa is set to purchase a significant share of ITA Airways, potentially shifting ITA into the Star Alliance and the Miles & More program. This could mean that those who start with SkyTeam elite status might end up with Star Alliance elite status by the time their ITA status match expires.
In conclusion, this status match offers a great opportunity to bag elite status with an airline that will soon become part of Star Alliance. Whether you decide to apply for ITA Volare status or not, this move by ITA Airways highlights the continual changes within the airline industry that are making things more interesting for opportunistic travellers.
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