maem

Airlines, hotels, everybody wants your money. That, in a word, is why they are willing to do a status match, most of the time. In short, a status match is a promotional tool that lets you have elite status (Gold or higher, whatever it is called) in exchange for a larger share of your wallet. Having said that, you don’t always need to spend, to get elite status with a hotel or airline. Yes, the chances are, that with an elite status in your hand, you are more likely to use that hotel’s/airline’s services, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Status match v/s Status challenges A status match is when an airline/hotel recognises your (elite) status with a competitor, and matches (or “sees”) that with their own program. For example, a Marco Polo Gold member (with Cathay Pacific) may want to have elite status with, say Gulf Air because they are relocating to the Middle East and expect to fly Gulf Air more. On the other hand, some airlines/hotels offer a “Status Challenge” – you may or may