For a limited time, you can match your status to British Airways Silver or Gold if you live in the US or Canada.
You get to use American Airlines’s Flagship Lounges and Admirals Club Lounges for free when you have British Airways Silver and British Airways Gold status.
This is great news if you don’t have a credit card that gives you free airport lounge access.
British Airways Silver Status and British Airways Gold Status Perks
With British Airways Sliver Status (oneworld Sapphire) you get the following perks when flying on British Airways and other oneworld airlines like American:
- Free seat selection at time of booking
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Free lounge access for you and one guest
- Two checked bags when flying economy for you and everyone flying with you
- Higher weight allowance (71 pounds) for each checked bag for you and those flying with you
- 50% bonus Avios when flying with British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines and Japan Airlines
- Status free for maternity/paternity/adoption leave
British Airways Gold Status (oneworld Emerald) includes all the Silver perks plus:
- First-class check-in desk and lounge access for you and a guest
- An extra free checked bag of 71 pounds per bag for you and those flying with you
- Additional reward availability in economy
- No fees for Priority Reward bookings
- British Airways arrivals lounges after a long-haul flight
- 100% bonus Avios when flying with British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines and Japan Airlines
Pro-tip: The free seat selection at the time of booking is a great perk especially when booking award flights. As a BA Gold member, I’ve also enjoyed having more options for rewards flights especially for short haul routes.
Participating Airlines
If you have elite status with one of these seven airlines, you may be eligible for the British Airways tier match:
- Air Canada 50K matches to BA Silver
- Air Canada 75K matches to BA Gold
- Air Canada Super Elite matches to BA Gold
- Air France/KLM Gold matches to BA Silver
- Air France/KLM Platinum matches to BA Gold
- Delta Gold matches to BA Silver
- Delta Platinum matches to BA Gold
- Lufthansa Senator matches to BA Silver
- Lufthansa Hon Circle matches to BA Gold
- Scandinavian Airlines Gold matches to BA Silver
- Scandinavian Diamond matches to BA Gold
- Scandinavian Pandion matches to BA Gold
- United Premier Gold matches to BA Silver
- United Premier Platinum matches to BA Gold
- United Premier 1k matches to BA Gold
- Virgin Atlantic Silver matches to BA Silver
- Virgin Atlantic Gold matches to BA Gold
You’ll notice that only airlines that fly from the US or Canada to Europe are eligible.
How to Submit a British Airways Tier Match
Unlike the Southwest status match, you can’t apply via email. You can only submit a British Airways tier status match online.
You have to include proof of your elite status from one of the above airlines and valid ID (passport or drivers license)and apply by May 7, 2024.
It will take about five business days for review. If approved, you’ll have BA Silver or Gold status for six months.
Pro-tip: This is a one time offer. So before matching, make sure you can use the benefits and extend your status.
Extend Status For 12 Months
You can extend your British Airways tier status for 12 months when you fly two qualifying transatlantic flights (one roundtrip) within six months.
BA is having a sale on flights from the US to Europe when you book by April 23.
Only American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, or Iberia flights flown in Business or First Class from the US, Canada or Mexico to the UK and to Europe qualify.
Pro-tip: Use your AARP discount to save $200 and CHASEBA10 code to save an additional 10% off your flight.
Is Matching British Airways Status Worth it?
You should do the tier match if you have upcoming flights on British Airways that you weren’t planning on crediting to American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. And want another way to have elite status with oneworld.
The biggest value of status matching is the lounge access. This has been my favorite benefit of British Airways Gold status.
Last year, a travel buddy (the one I was detained with in Nicaragua and who I was traveling with when I got lost in China) and I did several BA tier runs to earn BA Gold status despite already having American Airlines Executive Platinum status.
With BA Silver and BA Gold status, you get unlimited free access to American Flagship Lounges and Admirals Club Lounges any time you fly on American or another oneworld carrier. Even if you’re only flying domestically.
That Miami to New York flight gets you into the Miami Flagship Lounge and the Soho Lounge and Greenwich Lounge in New York.
You can even use the Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles even if you’re only flying Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Pro-tip: You also get Flagship First Checkin.
Conclusion
You can match your elite status from selected airlines to British Airways Silver or British Airways Gold through May 7, 2024. Matched status lasts for six months. You can extend it with one roundtrip flight to Europe in Business or First Class.
This gives you oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status which gives you lounge access and other perks when flying on American or another oneworld carrier.
Are you going to match your status to British Airways?
Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.
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