Act fast: Qatar Airways offering status match to Singapore Airlines elites (and others)

Match your status to Qatar Airways Privilege Club and enjoy a great selection of lounges on your next visit to Changi.

This offer has now been extended. Do refer to this post for the latest details

For a brief period, Qatar Airways is offering a status match to elite members of selected airlines, including Singapore Airlines.

This represents an excellent chance to parlay your Star Gold status into oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, unlocking access to several lounges at Changi including the Qantas First Class lounge (when it reopens, at least).

Qantas First Class Lounge Changi
Qantas First Class Lounge Changi

Which airlines is Qatar Airways status matching?

From now till 2359 on 20 May 2020 (Doha time- that’s 5 a.m Singapore time on 21 May), elite status holders with the following airlines can apply for a match:

  • Singapore Airlines
  • Emirates
  • Etihad Airways
  • South African Airways
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Virgin Australia

It’s a clever list, as far as strategy is concerned. Etihad and Emirates are direct competitors to Qatar, and South African and Virgin have financial troubles untold. Members in those programs would be more than happy to get an out.

Your matched status will be valid for 12 months, meaning you’ll enjoy elite benefits until June 2021.

Qatar has also cut the number of Qpoints required to retain status in half, allowing you to extend your membership a further year to May 2022. I’m more lukewarm about this, given you’d have to credit flights to Qatar Privilege Club and earn Qmiles- these have historically been devalued without notice, and you pay ridiculous “redemption fees” when redeeming them.

Membership TierPoints Required to Maintain
Platinum600 300
Gold300 150
Silver150 75

What status is Qatar Airways matching?

Qatar Airways tier cards

As a reminder, Qatar Airways Privilege Club has four tiers:

  • Burgundy (no status)
  • Silver (oneworld Ruby)
  • Gold (oneworld Sapphire)
  • Platinum (oneworld Emerald)

Qatar Airways has not explicitly stated how the tier match will work, but Executive Traveller has the tiers mapped as such:

 SilverGoldPlatinum
Singapore AirlinesKF Elite SilverKF Elite GoldPPS Club/ Solitaire PPS Club
EmiratesSkywards SilverSkywards GoldSkywards Platinum
EtihadGuest SilverGust GoldGuest Platinum
TurkishM&S Classic PlusM&S EliteM&S Elite Plus
South AfricanVoyager SilverVoyager GoldVoyager Platinum
Virgin AustraliaVelocity SilverVelocity GoldVelocity Platinum

This makes logical sense to me, although the final decision remains at the discretion of Qatar Airways.

How do I apply for a Qatar Airways status match?

The first thing to do is sign up for a Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership, if you don’t already have one. It’s free, and can be done here.

Second, send the following information to [email protected] with the subject “Privilege Club Status Match”:

  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership number
  • A photo of your current FFP membership card showing your name, status and expiry date
  • A screenshot of the last two months account activity for your current FFP

Qatar Airways will review your application and approve/deny it within 10 business days. I wouldn’t be too worried about a lack of account activity over the past two months- I don’t think anyone around the world has been flying.

What lounges can I access in Changi with Qatar Privilege Club status?

If your status match is approved and you get Gold or Platinum status, you’ll have quite the selection of lounges the next time you fly out of Changi Airport.

In Terminal 1, you’ll be able to visit the Qantas Business Class lounge, and the British Airways Business Class lounge. Unfortunately, Qatar Gold/Platinum members flying in Economy Class won’t be able to access the Qatar Airways Premium lounge, which is easily my favourite Business Class lounge in Changi at the moment. 

Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Qantas Business Class Lounge Singapore
Qantas Business Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
British Airways Business Class Lounge Singapore
British Airways Business Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1

If you’re a Platinum member, you’ll also have access to the Qantas First Class lounge, which has hands down some of the best dining I’ve ever had in an airport.

Qantas First Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Qantas First Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Dining at Qantas First Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Dining at Qantas First Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1
Dining at Qantas First Class Lounge, Changi Terminal 1

Over in Terminal 4 (when it reopens), you’ll be able to visit the Cathay Pacific Lounge, another very nice facility with a noodle bar and champagne.

Cathay Pacific Lounge at Changi Terminal 4
Cathay Pacific Lounge at Changi Terminal 4

Both oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members may invite one guest to join them in the lounge, provided he/she is travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight.

Conclusion

For those who already have KrisFlyer Gold or PPS/Solitaire PPS status, this is a great opportunity to get status with oneworld as well. Get your documents together ASAP and send them in.

The full T&C of the status match offer can be found here.

Do drop a comment below if you manage to get matched!

(HT: Executive Traveller)

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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JK

They’ve pulled the offer!

Alian

The link is no longer working so not sure if offer is still on but I tried based on the email you provided.

Fingers crossed

Beans

Thank you for sharing!
Just wondering if there is any downside to this?
Or is this really a “free lunch”?

Phil

It is common in the industry to only get one status match per account so if there is absolutely no chance of making use of it in the next 12 months then you may want to hold off.
Personally there’s half a chance I could fly oneworld next year so I have gone for it.

S H

Applied 18th May and today just received an email about Qatar gold status (matched fr KF gold). so take abt 3weeks

David

Was just matched to Gold as a PPS member. Took about 3 weeks.

TK Ling

Just received an email saying I was matched only to gold when I am PPS. Any idea what happen?

Q L

Holding Krisflyer Gold and got matched to Qatar Gold today. took about 2-3 weeks.

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