Bamboo Airways offering status match to all oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam elites

You may not have heard of Bamboo Airways before, but it’s an up-and-coming Vietnamese airline that commenced operations in 2019. It currently operates service to 29 long-haul and regional destinations, including Singapore Changi Terminal 1. 

Bamboo Airways is now looking to grow the ranks of its Bamboo Club frequent flyer programme by offering a status match to members of all three airline alliances.

Bamboo Airways status match

From now till 31 December 2022, Bamboo Airways is offering a Bamboo Club status match to members of any oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam airline. That’s nearly 60 different carriers, including Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. 

Members will be matched to Bamboo Club as follows:

The details of the status match can be found here, in Vietnamese (Google Translate is your friend). However, the application form features both English and Vietnamese, so it shouldn’t pose much of an issue.

To get matched, all you need to do is:

1. Sign up for Bamboo Club
2. Take a photo of your physical membership card or a full-sized screenshot of the digital card
3. Complete this application form
   • Do note that question (5) on the form asks for your Vietnamese address. Presumably that’s for them to mail your new membership card; I just entered a random hotel address in Hanoi. Don’t let that put you off, as the status match is open to members worldwide (see point 2 here)

Unlike some other status matches, there is no need to provide proof of a recent flight with the competitor programme.

Bamboo Club will respond to your application within 15 working days. 

What does Bamboo Airways status get you?

Bamboo Club Emerald is the programme’s entry tier, with no discernible benefits to speak of.

Bamboo Club Gold offers:

• Use of Business Class check-in desks
• Priority seat selection
• Priority baggage handling
• Priority boarding
• Additional 5kg checked baggage

Bamboo Club Diamond offers:

• Use of Business Class check-in desks (+1 guest)
• Access to Business Class Lounge on domestic routes only
• Priority seat selection
• Priority baggage handling
• Priority boarding
• Additional 10kg checked baggage
• Operational upgrades

Bamboo Club First offers:

• Use of Business Class check-in desks (+2 guests)
• Access to Business Class Lounge
• Priority seat selection
• Priority baggage handling
• Priority boarding
• Additional 20kg checked baggage
• Operational upgrades

Bamboo Airways doesn’t actually operate any international lounges of their own (they have five domestic lounges within Vietnam), so they use contract lounges at outstations. In Singapore, that would be either the SATS Premier Lounge or Marhaba Lounge in Terminal 1. 

What is the Bamboo Airways experience like?

Bamboo Airways operates a fleet of Boeing 787-9s and assorted Airbus A319/320/321s. 

The B787-9s have lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, and future aircraft may even have a 4-seat First Class cabin installed. There’s also a Premium Economy cabin with recliner-style seating and 38 inches of pitch. 

It’s a much simpler affair on short-haul routes, however, and passengers flying between Singapore and Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City can expect traditional recliner seating.

For an idea of what it’s like to fly Bamboo Airways, check out some trip reports here:

• Executive Traveller
• Flight Report
• Nomadic Notes

Conclusion

Bamboo Airways is offering a status match to frequent flyers from all three major alliances, a total of almost 60 airlines. If you see yourself travelling to or through Vietnam in the near future, it certainly doesn’t hurt to take it up- you’ll never know when it’ll come in useful.

Will you have any use for Bamboo Airways status? 

(HT: Executive Traveller)