STILL ON: Get a KLM / Air France Flying Blue match from your British Airways status

Many HfP readers will be losing their BA status in nine days time so we are currently looking at the different status matches available to you whilst you still qualify.

Last week we looked at the status match on offer from SAS. Today I want to remind you of the Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) offer which is also part of SkyTeam. You should compare the two offers – SAS and Flying Blue – before you apply.

You can use your British Airways Club status to get a direct match into the Flying Blue programme. This includes giving Flying Blue Platinum status to The British Airways Club Gold members.

Flying Blue has recently extended the match to other airlines, although obviously not Virgin Atlantic as they are both SkyTeam alliance partners.

Your elite status would be valid across all 18 airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, including Virgin Atlantic, as well as Flying Blue’s own partners.

Remember that Air France and KLM fly from 19 different airports in the UK to Paris and/or Amsterdam and onwards to the world, with London Gatwick added to the Air France network from 29th March. This includes airports such as Bristol, Cardiff, Humberside, Norwich and Teesside which do not have any British Airways services.

Air France is also opening a brand new 750 sq m lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 this spring, which will include a spa. You can see the details in our article here and we will be along to take a look as soon as we can. KLM passengers will be able to access it, as will those on any other SkyTeam carrier in Terminal 4.

There is an administration fee of between £79 and £249 for UK residents. Fees vary depending on where you live.

You can apply here.

What will you get for your British Airways status?

For people who are matching from British Airways status, all three core elite tiers are being matched:

• The British Airways Club Bronze status will get you Flying Blue Silver (SkyTeam Elite)

• The British Airways Club Silver status will get you Flying Blue Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus)

• The British Airways Club Gold status will get you Flying Blue Platinum (SkyTeam Elite Plus)

Gold Guest List and Premier status will also match to Platinum.

What status benefits do you get with Flying Blue?

You can see the status benefits you get with each tier here when flying with Air France and KLM.

The benefits of Silver, which matches from BA Bronze and is equivalent in terms of what you get, are mainly around seat selection and additional checked baggage.

Gold is where it starts to get interesting, which is what a BA Silver member gets. At this level you get lounge access (with a guest) plus seating and baggage benefits.

Platinum members (matched from BA Gold) get additional priority, baggage and seating benefits. For example, you can select an ‘extra leg room’ seat, a seat at the front of the aircraft or a KLM ‘Economy Comfort’ seat for free at the time of booking, whilst a Gold can only book one 72 hours before departure if any remain.

There is a detailed matrix on this page which shows the full list of benefits by tier.

A quick word about children

One key difference between Flying Blue Platinum and Flying Blue Gold is lounge access for children under 18.

A Flying Blue Platinum member can, as well as their standard one guest, bring children under 18 into an Air France or KLM lounge with them. This is a very generous policy by global standards.

A Gold member can only bring one guest in total.

A quick mention about La Premiere

As this is HfP, it would be remiss not to mention La Premiere, the exceptionally well regarded Air France First Class product. This includes what is generally accepted to be the best ‘ground’ experience in the world when travelling from Paris CdG.

You can only redeem Flying Blue miles for La Premiere if you hold Platinum status or above in Flying Blue. This status match could give you the status you need, and you could transfer in – say – American Express Membership Rewards points to pay for the redemption. Note that you will rarely see more than one redemption seat available per flight, but that’s not surprising given that it is only a four seat cabin.

Which airlines can you get benefits on with your status?

Your status is valid across the entire SkyTeam alliance, which now comprises 18 airlines:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Delta Air Lines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Middle East Airlines
• SAS
• SAUDIA
• TAROM
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Xiamen Air

In addition, Flying Blue Gold and Platinum members can access Air Mauritius, GOL and Qantas lounges when travelling on Air France or KLM codeshares operated by these carriers. No guests are allowed.

I need to flag one thing about Virgin Atlantic. There is a carve out from SkyTeam rules for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow Terminal 3:

• if you have Platinum status with Flying Blue, you can only enter the Heathrow Clubhouse if flying in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic. If you are in Economy, you will be sent to the No1 Lounge.

• if you have Gold status with Flying Blue you will be sent to the No1 Lounge whether you are in Economy or Premium Economy

This rule does NOT apply to other Clubhouse lounges – only Heathrow Terminal 3. All other SkyTeam benefits apply – you can use the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing to check-in if you are Flying Blue Gold or Platinum for example.

It is important to note that both Flying Blue Gold (from BA Silver) and Flying Blue Platinum (from BA Gold) match to SkyTeam’s top Elite Plus level. You get an identical level of alliance benefits.

How long does your matched status last?

12 months.

Your match should be approved within three business days (subject to requests for further ID or UK residency proof) and your account will be upgraded within the next five business days.

You will need to earn the standard number of XP (the Flying Blue tier points currency) within that time to retain your status.

Whilst Flying Blue usually operates a ‘soft landing’ policy, it does not apply to these matches. If you do not requalify you will drop straight back down to the base level.

How do you apply for your status match?

Flying Blue and its processing partner, Loyalty Status Co, have set up an application website here.

There is an application fee of £79 to match to Flying Blue Silver, £149 to match to Flying Blue Gold and £249 to match to Flying Blue Platinum.

Remember that both Gold and Platinum have identical SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits when flying other airlines. If you are Gold in The British Airways Club, you could choose to match to Gold instead of Platinum in order to save £100 unless some of the niche Platinum benefits (extra baggage allowance, waived service fees etc) appeal.

Conclusion

If you are losing your British Airways status in nine days, you need to move quickly if you want to match it elsewhere.

If you are thinking of switching to the world of Air France / KLM / Virgin Atlantic / SkyTeam, this is a good opportunity.

It should be especially interesting if you live outside the Heathrow catchment area, since KLM and Air France fly from 19 UK airports to the world via Amsterdam and Paris.

It is also well worth a look if you have occasional Virgin Atlantic trips. Being able to use the Upper Class Wing is cool – and you can get that even as Flying Blue Gold – and you get seating and baggage benefits, even if the Clubhouse at Terminal 3 is restricted.

You can find out more, and apply, on the Flying Blue status match website here.