Buy two years of Star Alliance Gold status – and get your money back!
This extraordinary offer from Thai Airways actually gives you your money back in travel credit.
By David Flynn, May 27 2022
Pssst: do you want two years of Star Alliance Gold status, and all the benefits that come with it, without flying for hundreds of hours or hunting down a status match?
Star Alliance member Thai Airways now selling a full two years of Gold status in its Royal Orchard Plus rewards program (which is directly equivalent to Star Alliance Gold ) for a flat US$10,000 through its Time to Gold promotion – and you get that same $10,000 back in travel credit.
That travel credit is issued in the form of 350,000 Thai Baht, and can be redeemed against flights on Thai Airways and its regional arm Thai Smile through to December 31, 2023.
You can buy tickets for yourself, a friend, relative or work colleague – or even a perfect stranger, should you feel so inclined.
As long as you’re in a position to spend the equivalent of US$10,000 on those airlines across the next 18 months, then you’re essentially getting two years of Star Alliance Gold status for free.
Your Thai Airways Gold status means a warm welcome across Star Alliance's 26 member airlines.
That’s two years of lounge access, an extra 20kg of checked luggage, priority services and other VIP perks across Star’s 26 member airlines – an impressive roster including heavy-hitters such as Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.
Buyers obviously need to be a member of Thai’s Royal Orchid Plus loyalty scheme (which is free to join), but even if they have not a single frequent flyer mile or status credit to their name, Time to Gold catapults them from a no-status zero to a Gold-plated hero (with an actual physical Gold card, not one of those digital ‘save-the-planet’ virtual cards).
Spend US$10,000 to buy Gold status and you get the equivalent back in travel credit.
And if you’re a Royal Orchard Plus Gold or Platinum member who buys the Time to Gold package to gift to someone else, you’ll earn a bonus 6,200 Miles – and pocket 5,000 Miles if you make your purchase with a Mastercard credit card.
Thai Airways says the launch of Time to Gold comes “in response to the growing travel demand and Thailand’s easing of international travel rules.”
The long-beleaguered Thai Airways was forced to enter a court-supervised rehabilitation after reporting its worst-ever net loss – US$4.1 billion – in 2020 due to the global pandemic. However, the carrier chalked up a net profit of US$1.6bn 2021 – its first net profit in five years – after restructuring efforts which included selling assets and “improving management efficiency”.
The Time to Gold promotion is available in Thailand, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
Thai Airways’ Time to Gold packages are on sale until July 31, 2022 at ThaiAirways.com.
31 Dec 2014
Total posts 47
This could make a nice gift for someone. I’m about to buy over $20k of Thai flights. Knowing the Thai systems I’m concerned about timing of the purchase vs receipt of the voucher vs convenience of use against a booking.
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 63
They note in their terms that "Air Ticket Cash Credit Voucher will be delivered to your registered email address within 24 Hours."
It can be used on the website so should be able to be applied immediately.
As long as you don't need to book within 24 hours, you look to be okay.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Good idea as long as the flight credits aren't devalued, even better if there was at least a 15% increase in the value.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
27 Feb 2015
Total posts 20
The conversion from USD the THB is a wrinkle that could hurt. There have been times when that currency pair has been very volatile. I am looking to buy tickets to Europe in September, but I don’t think I want the currency risk right now, May revisit in two months, although to be fair 10k USD is only 341k THB at today’s rate so there is a little wiggle space. I will watch the FX rate - it may even work out better, who knows.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 184
Just a thought - 'What if' Thai were to fall into financial difficulties or even worse after July 31 2022 when subscriptions have been paid for??????
Would Star Alliance honor the agreement, I'd say no.
30 Sep 2011
Total posts 45
My understanding is 1. They are still in liquidation and have not exiited Bankruptcy. 2. The are still technically on the Bangkok Stock Exchange but under notice that they maybe delisted. 3. Wiin 48 hours of being granted special exemption on the Stock Exchange theyapplied gor an extension of 12 months. 4. Star Alliance is still listed as a creditor by the Administrator. If you took this offer up you would want to redeem this credit immediately on a Star Alliance member.
YeahNay, USD10,000 would get you Gold on most other members of the Alliance only for a year but much safer.
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