If you passport wallet packs a Gold or Platinum frequent flyer card from the likes of Qantas and Virgin Australia, this SkyTeam status match will unlock similar VIP perks with the likes of Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines and more.
Your free SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status will let you enjoy many of the benefits of business class – including access to airport lounges, priority check-in and boarding and a boosted baggage allowance – even if you're flying in economy on any of the 20 airlines belonging to the SkyTeam alliance.
SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus cards are usually issued as a reward for flying tens of thousands of miles with SkyTeam airlines – so how can you get this gratis status?
A 'status match' promotion currently offered by SkyTeam member China Southern Airlines delivers free Gold or Silver status in its Sky Pearl Club frequent flyer scheme, which are equivalent to the Elite Plus and Elite tiers of all other SkyTeam airlines.
Who can get a SkyTeam Elite, Elite Plus status match
You'll ideally be sitting on the top rungs of the frequent flyer ladder with a Platinum-grade or Gold-grade frequent flyer card with any airline, including Qantas and Virgin Australia.
Similar status with other Oneworld and Star Alliance member airlines also counts, as well as non-aligned airlines such as Emirates and Etihad.
You can even get a China Southern Sky Pearl Club status match against any other SkyTeam member, provided you've got Elite or Elite Plus status– although we'd expect most applicants to be holding status with airlines other than SkyTeam.
If your status match application is successful, your new SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status will be valid through the end of February 2019 – that's a solid 18 months of SkyTeam perks!
How SkyTeam Elite Plus status match tiers line up
Here are some of the most common frequent flyer tiers which will qualify you for China Southern Sky Pearl Gold / SkyTeam Elite Plus status:
- Oneworld Emerald: such as Qantas Platinum or Platinum One, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Diamond, Malaysia Airlines Enrich Platinum, British Airways Executive Club Gold and so on
- Oneworld Sapphire: this includes Qantas Gold, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Gold, Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold and British Airways Executive Club Silver
- Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum
- Emirates Skywards Platinum, Etihad Guest Platinum
- Star Alliance Gold: including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold (as well as PPS Club and Solitaire PPS), Air New Zealand Airpoints Gold and Elite, and Lufthansa and Swiss Miles & More Senator and HON Circle
SkyTeam Elite Plus status gives you business class lounge access before international flights on any SkyTeam member (although lounge access doesn't extend to domestic flights such as in the USA with parter Delta) and fast-track your way through the airport with Sky Priority queues.
Your alliance-wide extra baggage allowance is also boosted by 20kg over and above the allowance shown on your ticket, with priority baggage handling; you can even secure an economy seat on already-full SkyTeam flights when booking at least 24 hours before departure.
How SkyTeam Elite status match tiers line up
Here are some of the most common frequent flyer tiers which will qualify you for China Southern Sky Pearl Silver / SkyTeam Elite status:
- Oneworld Ruby: such as Qantas Silver, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Silver, Malaysia Airlines Enrich Silver, British Airways Executive Club Bronze and so on
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold
- Emirates Skywards Gold, Etihad Guest Gold
- Star Alliance Silver: including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Silver, Air New Zealand Airpoints Silver, and Lufthansa and Swiss Miles & More Frequent Traveller
SkyTeam Elite doesn't include airport lounge access, but you can still use the priority check-in and boarding queues of all SkyTeam member airlines. You also gain an extra 10kg of baggage or one extra piece when flying with SkyTeam.
How to get your free SkyTeam Elite, Elite Plus status
If you're not already a member of China Southern's Sky Pearl Club rewards scheme, join for free on the airline's website. You'll need a mobile phone number for this, because China Southern sends an SMS verification code as part of the sign-up process.
(For Australian mobile numbers, be sure to drop the leading '0' from the number – so select 'Australia +61', then key in your mobile number beginning with '4'.)
Once your membership is active, use your membership number and PIN to login at the same website, then browse to Member Profile > Contact Info and enter a mailing address so you can receive your membership pack.
Next, download China Southern's official Microsoft Excel status match form [28kB] – we've hosted this on our own AusBT server to make things easier.
Enter your Sky Pearl Club membership number, first and last names, email address, your employer's company name, the airline with which you currently hold elite status, and your status tier with that airline, and save the Excel file.
Tip: if your existing status comes from a Oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam airline, keep things simple by entering "Oneworld Emerald", "Star Alliance Gold' or "SkyTeam Elite Plus" in this field, rather than the likes of "Qantas Platinum", as shown below:
China Southern also requires a copy of your current frequent flyer card (either a clear photograph, scan or screenshot of a digital card) plus either a photo of your business card or your most recent frequent flyer activity statement.
Bundle these together in an email addressed to [email protected] (this is China Southern's North America marketing department) to request your matching Sky Pearl Club card.
Getting your frequent flyer activity statement
We'd suggest most business travellers would submit a copy of their business card to qualify for the China Southern status match, but if you'd rather include your most recent frequent flyer activity statement, here's how to get that for Qantas and Virgin Australia.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members can generate an activity statement by logging into their Qantas Frequent Flyer account, clicking 'View Activity Statement' on the top menu, and then 'Print Your Activity Statement' (it'll be easier to attach your statement to the email if you choose to save this as a PDF file).
Velocity Frequent Flyer members should log into their Velocity account, click 'My Activities' in the Velocity site's main menu, select the most recent month from the list available, click 'search', and then click 'print history' at the bottom of that month's table to generate a similar statement, which you may again create into a PDF file (or save as an HTML file if you don't have a PDF generator).
Getting your China Southern status match
After submitting your status match request, you'll receive an automated reply from China Southern promising a reply "in 3-5 business days."
While China Southern advises that this "Overseas Elite membership status match program is designed for invited customers," anybody can apply – it's just that "invited customers" will be placed at the top of the status match queue.
The airline advises that following the receipt of a valid status match request, "we will confirm your new Sky Pearl Club level by email in one month."
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Apr 2016
Total posts 6
Chris does China Southern's Sky Pearl Gold or Silver give access to any Qantas lounges or other benefits due to their codeshare agreements? If so, what is the extent of this?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Short answer: no, because the airlines aren't alliance partners.
Long answer: Sky Pearl Gold members travelling with China Southern on international flights from Melbourne on a CZ flight number are granted access to the Qantas international business class lounge in Melbourne before those flights, but that's only because it's the contract lounge nominated by China Southern and is used by all lounge-eligible China Southern flyers from Melbourne anyway - so it's only because of that agreement rather than because of any alliance benefits.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 3
There might be a bit of a wait:
"
Dear Valued Customers,
Your email is well received. Thanks for getting in touch with China Southern Airlines North America marketing dept. We’ll get back to you in 3-5 business days.
Special notice: Overseas Elite membership status match program is designed for invited customers. We understand you may get the info from families, colleagues or friends, but limited by the quality control we’ll serve our invited customers at the first priority. If you are not in our current list please allow us a little longer time for process. We’ll try our best to serve you as soon as possible."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jun 2015
Total posts 70
I also received that reply but then today:
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 73
Also not mentioned was that because its a CZ status match. Those granted gold (allowed 1 guest) also silver membership can use the domestic lounges in China flying CZ. Silver members will also have lounge access on any greater China (China-HK,HK-Taiwan or China-Taiwan) flight with China eastern, Xiamen or China airlines. While gold members will also be able to use China eastern and Xiamen domestic lounges in about 20-30 cities when flying a chinese skyteam partner.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 May 2017
Total posts 9
Do they match all Star Alliance? Specifically United.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 55
Doesn't the article make it clear that this status match works with any airline in Star Alliance???
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Thanks Chris good information
09 Feb 2012
Total posts 23
Boo. QF Gold can match to Elite Plus but those of us who are VA Gold only can match to Elite (with no lounge access). Sad face.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jan 2016
Total posts 59
That is fair. With family pooling hitting VA Gold is a lot easier than QF Gold.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 55
Great tip-off on this, Chris and ABT, have applied today, now we will see if CZ honours this or like some airlines decides to move the goalposts after the event!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Issue with registering ... followed instructions but this did not occur ... China Southern sends an SMS verification code as part of the sign-up process. Tried to redo but it says the code was sent. Never received it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Anyone else had the SMS verification code issue? I've now tried three times and nothing has come through.
29 Jun 2016
Total posts 25
Does anyone know of any Star Alliance status match promotions available as at 15 July 2017? I am Enerald Oneworld/QF Platinum but I've had enough of QF and find cheaper fares and options for RTW with Star Alliance carriers
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 May 2017
Total posts 9
Can probably exploit this if you got the United Airlines challenge which gives you gold for 3 months off a virgin gold card. Can end up with Elite plus when matched to United vs Elite with VA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2017
Total posts 6
Hi Chris,
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Jul 2017
Total posts 2
Chances for a match not looking good.
"Special Note:
The "Elite Member Matches" project is specifically sent to members who have been pre-qualified. It’s not a public program. We noticed many irresponsible distribution and malicious reproduction of the project, as well as too much forged, altered application materials, China Southern Airlines North America will suspend the application of non-invited members.
If you are informed by our account manager, please include the name of the invitee or CC your account manager.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Southern China North America Marketing Department"
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 3
Ouch, that was sharp!
Etihad
07 Jan 2016
Total posts 17
Applied today and got the same reply of itchyfeetagain !! not looking good................
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 130
Hmmmm I was going to chase this up today after sending my application but after reading the above I might just leave it! Shame - I was going to book a flight with them for Oct to LHR to try them out .......
30 Aug 2011
Total posts 7
Oh dear, not good. I haven't had the "nasty" email yet but I suspect it will only be a matter of time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jul 2015
Total posts 1
Just got that fun email too... hmmm not looking promising.
Qantas
12 Jul 2013
Total posts 11
I am trying to join from the USA. Every time I fill out the form I cannot get past the confirmation code page. It never sends the code. Any ideas?
18 Nov 2011
Total posts 33
Because it is only invited existing members only in the US. It is misleading that status match available to everyone.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
The offer was available to those outside the USA – we checked this with China Southern before writing & publishing this article. China Southern appears to have since tightened up the entry criteria, as airlines sometimes do following an over-subscribed status match promotion.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 May 2017
Total posts 9
So has anyone had success with this yet?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Jul 2017
Total posts 2
No response thus far.
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 55
Still waiting here. My DL Gold expires this month so this would be of great use.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 May 2015
Total posts 1
Special Note:
The "Elite Member Matches" project is specifically sent to members who have been pre-qualified. It’s not a public program. We noticed many irresponsible distribution and malicious reproduction of the project, as well as too much forged, altered application materials, China Southern Airlines North America will suspend the application of non-invited members.
If you are informed by our account manager, please include the name of the invitee or CC your account manager.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Southern China North America Marketing Department
"18 Nov 2011
Total posts 33
Guys this is vey clear the inviting anly status match for those in US based only.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
As noted earlier: The offer was also available to those outside the USA – we checked this with China Southern before writing & publishing this article. China Southern appears to have since tightened up the entry criteria, as airlines sometimes do following an over-subscribed status match promotion.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Has anyone received a status match????
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