Until May 30, 2014 TAM Airlines’ elite members (Red and Black Frequent Flyer Card holders) can maintain their Star Alliance Gold status via a status match. TAM elite members can select one of nine Star Alliance frequent flyer programs to join and get a status match: Aeroplan, Air New Zeland Airpoints, SAS EuroBonus, United MileagePlus, Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles, Air China PhoenixMiles, SAA Voyager, Ethiopian ShebaMiles and TAP Portugal Victoria. Once you have received your frequent flyer number from any of these programs, you can request retention of your Star Alliance Gold status by logging on to http://www.StarAllianceGold.staralliance.com and submitting electronic proof of a valid TAM Frequent Flyer Red or Black Card. When the status match has been validated, you will get your new membership card bearing the Star Alliance Gold status logo. If you already are a member of any of the nine programs listed, you can go directly to http://www.StarAllianceGold.staralliance.com to request the status match.
This promotion is valid through May 30, 2014. TAM recently exited Star Alliance in favor of oneworld.

Bottom line: This is a good deal if you can fully benefit from Star Alliance Gold which comes with dedicated airport check-in, priority waitlisting for flights, priority boarding along with first and business class passengers, priority airport standby and baggage handling, airport lounge access to more than 1,000 lounges for the member and one guest, among other benefits. Star Alliance airlines fly from 11 airports in Brazil.