The latest iteration of Italy’s national airline – ITA Airways – is now operating. And despite the fact that very few details are available regarding its new loyalty programme – Volare – ITA is offering a wide-ranging status match opportunity.

ITA Volare status match

Until November 30, 2021, ITA’s Volare frequent flyer program is running a status match campaign. 24 different airline loyalty programs are listed as eligible, although NOT the levels of elite status that are considered acceptable.

How does the status match work? First of all, you need to become a member of ITA Volare – register here. Once you are registered (and you might not even receive your new membership number), send an email to [email protected] with the following details:

• Email subject: “program of origin” – “status of origin”
• Body text: name; surname; “program of origin”; “status of origin”
• Attach a legible copy of your current valid frequent flyer card (digital or physical) and a copy of your ID card (pdf format, jpg)

If your status match is approved, your status will be updated by December 31, 2021, and will then be valid for 12 months.

Which frequent flyer programs are being matched?

This is the list of frequent flyer programs that ITA Volare is matching:

• Aeroflot – Aeroflot Bonus
• Aerolíneas Argentinas – Aerolíneas Plus
• Air Europa – Suma
• Alitalia – Millemiglia
• Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
• American Airlines – AAdvantage
• ANA – Mileage Club
• British Airways – Executive Club
• Czech Airlines – OK Plus
• Delta Airlines – SkyMiles
• Emirates – Skywards
• Iberia – Iberia Plus
• Korean Air – SKYPASS
• Lufthansa – Miles & More
• Middle East Airlines – Cedar Miles
• Qatar Airlines – Privilege Club
• Royal Jordanian – Royal Club
• Saudia – Alfursan
• Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
• Swiss – Miles & More
• TAP Air Portugal – Miles & Go
• TAROM – Sky Team
• Turkish Airlines – Miles & Smiles
• United Airlines – MileagePlus

If you have elite status with more than one of the above, it’s obviously in your best interests to choose your highest level of competing status…

Should I even bother?

At this stage, it’s not even clear whether (or when) ITA Airways will replace Alitalia in the Skyteam alliance. It’s entirely possible that this open status match is a rush job that is only intended to obscure the ultimate objective of getting Alitalia MilleMiglia elite status members safely transferred into the new airline program.

However, there is no harm in applying. Even if you have no plans to fly on ITA Airways anytime soon (or even Skyteam), your elite status might be useful in 2022 as the basis for another status match.

HT to YHBU