Extended: Match KrisFlyer status (and other programmes) to SkyTeam Elite Plus

Expired

ITA Airways (SkyTeam's newest member) is offering an easy status match from various airlines including SIA.

ITA Airways (the successor to bankrupt Italian flag carrier Alitalia) has been offering various status match opportunities to its Volare frequent flyer programme, giving elite members of other airlines (including KrisFlyer) the opportunity to get matched all the way to SkyTeam Elite Plus.

This status match is now available again till 15 April 2022.

ITA Airways, Italy’s latest attempt at running an airline

Volare status match offer

Volare Status Match

ITA Airways’ frequent flyer programme Volare commenced operations at the start of this year, and elite members of the following programmes can now apply for a Volare status match, up till 15 April 2022. 

  • Aerolรญneas Argentinas โ€“ Aerolรญneas Plus
  • Air Europa – Suma 
  • Alitalia โ€“ MilleMiglia 
  • Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage 
  • ANA โ€“ Mileage Club 
  • British Airways – Executive Club 
  • Czech Airlines โ€“ OK Plus 
  • Delta Airlines โ€“ SkyMiles 
  • Emirates โ€“ Skywards 
  • EL Al – Matmid 
  • Iberia โ€“ Iberia Plus 
  • Korean Air – SKYPASS 
  • Lufthansa – Miles and More 
  • Middle East Airlines โ€“ Cedar Miles 
  • Qatar Airways – Privilege Club 
  • Royal Jordanian โ€“ Royal Club 
  • Saudia – Alfursan 
  • Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer 
  • Swiss Air โ€“ Miles & More 
  • TAP โ€“ Miles & Go 
  • Tarom โ€“ Sky Team ( I believe Sky Team is a typo, and it should be FlyingBlue)
  • Turkish Airways โ€“ Miles&Smiles
  • United Airlines – MileagePlus

Applying for status match

  1. Sign up for a Volare membership 
  2. Complete the Status Match dedicated request form which you can find in your personal area by entering your personal data and uploading a legible copy of your Frequent Flyer program card of origin (digital or physical) and a copy of your valid identity card (pdf, jpg format) 

ITA will contact you by 15 May 2022 to let you know if your application has been successful. Membership of the exclusive Club recognized under the present Status Match campaign will be valid till 15 April 2023. 

How are tiers matched?

The Volare programme will have four different tiers:

Tier Perks
Volare Smart
  • N/A (entry tier)
Volare Plus
(SkyTeam Elite)
  • Free ancillary services
  • Priority waitlist
  • Business Class check-in
Volare Premium
(SkyTeam Elite Plus)
  • All the benefits of previous tier
  • Lounge access
  • Priority boarding
Volare Executive
(SkyTeam Elite Plus)
  • All the benefits of previous tier
  • Lounge access
  • Free food and drink
  • Invitations to exclusive events
  • Dedicated reception
  • Complimentary checking of golf equipment

 As a reminder, SkyTeam has only two tiers (like Star Alliance):

  Elite Elite Plus
Priority Wait List โœ” โœ”
Preferred Seating โœ” โœ”
Priority Check-in  โœ” โœ”
Priority Boarding โœ” โœ”
Extra Baggage Allowance โœ” โœ”
Priority Baggage   โœ”
Lounge Access   โœ”
Guaranteed Economy Class Seat   โœ”

My experience matching from KrisFlyer

I sent in my status match application on 3 November, comprising:

  • A screenshot of my KrisFlyer Elite Gold card from the Singapore Airlines app (literally a photo of the screen, since the app annoyingly doesn’t let you take a screenshot of the membership card)
  • A copy of my passport (some people tried sending a copy of their NRIC and were rejected)

On 6 November I received an email confirming my upgrade to Volare Premium.

We are pleased to inform you that your request for Status Match to the Volare loyalty program by ITA Airways has been accepted and, from now on, you have joined the Club as a Premium Member.

If you’re a PPS or Solitaire PPS Club member, I’ve seen data points of both Premium and Executive matches, so they don’t seem to have any hard and fast rule here. 

Which airlines are part of SkyTeam?

Although SkyTeam has a bit of a reputation for being the “dumping ground” alliance, it’s still got some heavy hitters like Air France, KLM and Delta. Those based in Singapore may also find SkyTeam status useful when flying with China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia or Vietnam Airlines. 

  • Aeroflot
  • Aerolineas Argentinas
  • AeroMexico
  • Air Europa
  • Air France
  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern
  • Czech Airlines
  • Delta
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • ITA Airways
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM
  • Korean Air
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Saudia
  • TAROM
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Xiamen Air

And if you’re headed to Korea for the VTL, you might enjoy some benefits on Korean Air too. 

Be advised that data points so far for enjoying SkyTeam benefits via Volare have been mixed. I’ve read a few stories of people flying on Delta or KLM who were denied their benefits, although it’s hopefully just a matter of time before systems are synced and status properly recognised. 

Conclusion

SkyTeam Lounge Istanbul

While I’d much rather have Star Gold or oneworld Emerald status, I’m not about to pass up a free shot at SkyTeam Elite Plus.

The latest extension gives you until 15 April 2022 to get your application in, and it’s well worth the couple of minutes in my opinion. 

Have you tried your Volare status on a SkyTeam airline yet? Any success?

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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Christ

Won’t it mean you’ll have to collect miles in the ITA program rather than Delta or some other SkyTeam airline? That’s the bit that makes me hesitate

Ratna

So check in with Volare then asked the lounge to change the FFP to Flying Blue is possible?

Gideon

Interesting opportunity. Btw there also used to be a pretty easy way to get Skyteam status (send form with proof of KF status) through status match with Garuda. Got Garuda Platinum with a Krisflyer Gold match (this was ~3 years ago so not sure if that still exists).

piggieq

I thought China Eastern is also part of SkyTeam, so it will be useful for travel to and around Shanghai as well.

Max

I matched Krisflyer gold to the premium tier. Sky team Elite plus is lounge access for guest +1 so not consistent with the chart although that could potentially change.

Super

same here.. KF Gold = Premium

Savio

My TK Elite Plus just got matched to Executive status.

ZYX

Just got Premium with my Turkish Airlines Gold. Though I still don’t know my FFP number…

Randall

I received my welcome email as a Premium member. But lounge access was not listed as one of the perks.

Christian

Was matched to the Executive tier with PPS

John

My PPS Solitaire was matched to Premium only lol

Sam

PPS –> Premium…..seems not consistent. I did via website and could not select SQ PPS just silver and gold option, so I added a comment but apparently didn’t work

Rachel

Same, I have PPS Solitaire and added a comment but only received Premium, not Executive.

Ven

“Use the support form in your personal area or send an email to statusmatch@itaspa.com with the following details”

Just wanted to point out that the status match can be done via their form. and it took less than 1hr for me to get approval using a photo of the membership on the phone and passport ID

Sean

No QF? That’s interesting, given the Italian diaspora in Australia…

Mike L

I am very impressed with these guys. I submitted my email for the status match and received the confirmation within 15 minutes!

Jem

Anyone knows how to utilize your Volare status on Skyteam flights? I still canโ€™t figure out whatโ€™s my Volare membership number to use!

Mike

Volare will send you an email with details. You can also login to website at https://www.itaspa.com/en_gb/ with your ID & PW setup to see details.

Happy Camper

Thanks for this, Aaron.. I recently flew inter-EU on Air France and because of your PSA I had a free-of-charge additional piece of check-in luggage of max 32 kg.. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

Ben

Previously matched using my KF silver. Recently upgraded to gold, any data points if they can match this new status?

Mike

KF Gold = Volare Premium = SkyTeam Elite Plus

tom

fyi tried status match against kris flyer gold and status was valid till 1/24. just submitted last week and received confirmation today.

Haroh

did anyone try to use ITA Volare Premium with other Skyteam airlines?
It seems no one recognizes the membership yet. I tried to add my membership number via Delta and Airfrance but ITA is not on the list of airlines.

Last edited 2 years ago by Haroh
Francis

I tried it three times this week. They will allow priority check in and lounge access. But no extra luggage yet (which Iโ€™m hoping for them to add in the future).