TAP Portugal status match offer: Get Star Alliance Gold for €70

If you currently an elite member with a SkyTeam or oneworld airline (perhaps through Qatar Airway’s recent status match), here’s an opportunity to turn it into Star Gold status. 

TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go is currently offering a status match for elite members of selected frequent flyer programs. On offer is either Miles&Go Silver or Miles&Go Gold, equivalent to Star Silver and Star Gold respectively. 

How TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go status match works

Applicants will need to register for a Miles&Go account. During the sign-up process, they’ll be prompted to upload proof of status with an eligible program. 

Attach a copy of your frequent flyer card, with the cardholder’s name, card number, expiry date and status clearly visible. 

Once you’ve received word that your status match has received preliminary approval, you’ll have 10 days to do either one of the following:

• Sign up for Club TAP Miles&Go, which costs €99 (S$156) per year- this plan will give you 14,000 miles over the course of a year
• Buy at least 2,000 TAP Miles&Go miles for €70 (S$110)

Status will be confirmed within 15 days of completing this, and valid for a minimum of 12 months. You can then maintain status with a reduced requirement:

• Miles&Go Silver: 10,000 status miles + 2 flights on TAP Air Portugal
• Miles&Go Gold: 25,000 status miles + 4 flights on TAP Air Portugal 

Which programs is TAP Air Portugal matching?

TAP Air Portugal is not matching Star Alliance airlines- I think there’s some unspoken rule within the alliance that carriers won’t poach each other’s members. 

However, they are matching a wide range of oneworld and SkyTeam elites. For those of you who got Qatar Airways status during the recent status match, this is an opportunity to parlay it to Star Gold status (although most people here would have achieved Qatar status through Singapore Airlines in the first place…).

What benefits does TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go have?

TAP Air Portugal Silver status offers:

• 25% bonus miles
• Priority check-in
• Fast track boarding and security
• Complimentary seat reservations
• Lounge access when traveling on international TAP flights
• Star Alliance Silver status

TAP Air Portugal Gold status offers:

• All the benefits of Silver
• 50% bonus miles
• Companion ticket (40% discount on award ticket when a cash ticket is purchased)
• Priority check-in
• Waived service fees
• Additional luggage allowance
• Lounge access when traveling on Star Alliance or TAP flights
• Star Alliance Gold status

Please don’t do this status match if you’re only going to get Silver; it’s totally not worth it. 

I’m not well-versed in the mechanics of TAP’s award chart, so if that interests you it’s better to check out this post. 

Conclusion

TAP Air Portugal’s status match isn’t “free status” the way Qatar Airway’s was, and there will be some out of pocket expenses.

Given we don’t know when international travel will be possible again, it could turn out being a bit of a gamble- every month that goes by is one less month you’ll have to enjoy status.

That said, I can see this being useful for some oneworld/SkyTeam elites who want to jump ship to Star Alliance.