12 Months Star Alliance Status Match With TAP

Portugal’s TAP is at it again, this time around they are offering a 12-month status match. If you remember, they ran a promotion just as “the plague” hit us back in March but that was only for six months.

It must have worked for them back then because now they’re back with yet another status match promotion, this time for a whole year.
If you weren’t aware, TAP is a Star Alliance member so by obtaining top tier status with them; you will gain access to Star Alliance lounges around the world.

The ironic part, of course, is that by the time we’re allowed out of our bubble, that status will probably have reverted back to the base level.
In any case, those who don’t play don’t win so we might as well get another airline status for the collection, right?

Which Program Can You Match From?

For Australian’s, there isn’t all too much choice unless you’re a British Airways Executive Club member like myself or maybe if you hold American Airlines status.

But wait…remember Qatar Airways’s generous status match promotion where they matched Velocity frequent flyers to their top tier?
It appears that Velocity is the gift that keeps on giving!

If you’re somewhat of a frequent flyer, you probably have a friend who is loyal to Qantas.
In the pre-COVID days, they might have laughed at you for chasing Velocity Gold or Platinum “Ha! Your Velocity status is worthless, at least with my Qantas Platinum I have access to all the One World lounges”. Well, it looks like the tide has turned and even though we’re not flying anywhere, that Velocity Platinum status has now yielded One World Emerald and Star Alliance Gold with zero effort!

Here’s the full list of eligible programs you can match from.

TAP Status Duration

Once you apply, your status should be approved in 15 working days, and it will be valid for 12 months. If for some miraculous reason we’re able to fly before that 12 months is up, you will be able to extend the status by another year if you complete the following requirements:

• Keep Silver status with 10,000 status miles and two flights on TAP Air Portugal
• Keep Gold status with 25,000 status miles and four flights on TAP Air Portugal

But Wait, There’s More

If you thought TAP is handing out fancy gold cards out of the goodness of their heart, think again. There’s money involved here, so your status match won’t come for free.

Once you submit your status match application, you will need to complete one of the following 2 challenges.

• Option 1: Sign up for the TAP Miles & Go program which starts at US$122 a year.
• Option 2: buy some TAP Miles&Go miles – cheapest option coming in at 70 euro

How To Apply

Applying for the status match is pretty straightforward, step one is to check your eligibility step two is to either register as a new member or if you’ve been a member and attach a copy of your frequent flyer card, or if you’re an existing TAP member since January 1, 2020, you should email [email protected] with a copy of your frequent flyer card. Once that is complete, buy some TAP miles or sign up for the Miles&Go program to complete the challenge requirements.

Is There An End Date?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but from reading the promotion page, I could not see any end date for this status match promo. That means it could be withdrawn at any stage. Alternatively, you can see that as a sign to hold off and wait until a while before submitting your status match, after all, it’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon so the longer you wait, the more opportunity there is to actually use your news status with TAP.

Summing Up – TAP Status Match

Airlines are desperate to obtain new customers, so I doubt this will be the last status match we see this year. Unfortunately, I already got a six month Gold status thanks to the previous TAP promo so I will not be eligible for this offer; if you missed out back then and managed to score Qatar Airways Privilege Club status, this is an excellent opportunity to match to yet another alliance!