Does Thai Airways Do Frequent Flyer Status Match?

[onethailand]

Has anyone had any experience with switching frequent flyer programs and getting the new program to match the status of the old one? I don't get to fly NW much any more and I'd like to have an ROP Gold card sooner (though I'll probably have one by the end of the year anyhow).

[britmaveric]

No - NW isnt Star Alliance and even if it were they don't switch. Miles need to be earned on each particular airline.

[ovenman]

No - NW isnt Star Alliance and even if it were they don't switch. Miles need to be earned on each particular airline.

The OP is referring to a status match where one airline will offer an immediate match in their frequent flier program to that of a person's status in another program in an attempt to poach that customer. A status match would be more common across different airline alliances than it would within an alliance (where it would be viewed as one partner robbing another). But even the latter is not unheard of.

That said, I would be surprised to learn that THAI offered a status match with their Cheap Charlie program (although I have no knowledge about this one way or the other). They aren't generally known for giving stuff away.

[onethailand]

Ovenman's got it - I just want equivalent status, not to move my miles.

I don't really think Thai will do it either - but I was hoping someone's had a good experience I really don't feel like going to United... if not Thai, then Cathay's currently offering one.

[Florin]

I don't think TG would do it...what's wrong with using United's program? These days you can redeem stuff all over the Star Alliance network, and I think US-based airlines would be much more into concepts like a status match.

That being said, www.flyertalk.com/forum should give you an infinitely more educated answer

[Prakanong]

I can remember Thai doing this as a one off a few years back in the UK.

It took another ROP person to put you through as they got something too if I remember correctly.

It must have been circa 2003.

I fly SIA mostly now and I know they will not do it for my Thai ROP Gold - I just put my miles on there as I doubt i will get up to PPS as I do not fly much to Europe now.

[CHdiver]

You may have a look at this Forum and ask there.

[onethailand]

You may have a look at this Forum and ask there.

Been there - mostly discussion about US programs.

Anyhow, I called in to ROP - and they wouldn't do it. I have a feeling most Asian ones won't because they all have captive markets, except for rare circumstances where Cathay tries to poach dissatisfied SQ flyers as in the current situation.

One way around this is to do the US status match from NW-UA - and then switch all my Star Alliance activity to that card. Would really prefer ROP but it doesn't look practicable at the moment

[ovenman]

One way around this is to do the US status match from NW-UA - and then switch all my Star Alliance activity to that card. Would really prefer ROP but it doesn't look practicable at the moment

As long as you are getting EQM's for whatever fare class you normally fly (if enrolled in UA's program), does it really make much difference whether you are with UA or a Royal Orchid Plus member? For instance, I've noticed that there a number of NW Platinum Elites that do most of their actual flying with Delta or Continental but like WorldPerks because it's a more generous program.

[onethailand]

One way around this is to do the US status match from NW-UA - and then switch all my Star Alliance activity to that card. Would really prefer ROP but it doesn't look practicable at the moment

As long as you are getting EQM's for whatever fare class you normally fly (if enrolled in UA's program), does it really make much difference whether you are with UA or a Royal Orchid Plus member? For instance, I've noticed that there a number of NW Platinum Elites that do most of their actual flying with Delta or Continental but like WorldPerks because it's a more generous program.

Seeing as I live in LOS, I'd get more out of ROP than I would from Mileage Plus. Basically, you hit it on the head

I've had it good as a WP Platinum - almost never had a problem upgrading and always got treated well in the last seven years - but this program has turned south as of last year. Though I can tell you that, as far as KLM was concerned, a WP Platinum had lower status than the equivalent in KLM's program before it got merged into Air France.

Thus I would be concerned that, as far as Thai goes, a MP Premium Elite (I think this is the equivalent of a ROP Gold) would be given lower priority than a ROP Gold on a Thai Airways flight.

With NW/Continental/Delta, though, you're absolutely right - especially for US-based members. WorldPerks beats the other two hands down.

[ovenman]

Thus I would be concerned that, as far as Thai goes, a MP Premium Elite (I think this is the equivalent of a ROP Gold) would be given lower priority than a ROP Gold on a Thai Airways flight.

You may well be right but lower priority for what though? I've never gotten the impression from anything I have read that ROP Gold members get upgraded any too often.

[Prakanong]

Thus I would be concerned that, as far as Thai goes, a MP Premium Elite (I think this is the equivalent of a ROP Gold) would be given lower priority than a ROP Gold on a Thai Airways flight.

You may well be right but lower priority for what though? I've never gotten the impression from anything I have read that ROP Gold members get upgraded any too often.

I used to get upgraded to Biz about 50% of the time from BKK-FRA from about 2004-2006

I do not fly them much now though and keep the ROP for lounge access - I only remembered yesterday after looking at Flyertalk i had a Gold renewal upgrade to use.

Its not really worth it Singapore-Bangkok and will not be flying long distance with them now for a while/

[onethailand]

You may well be right but lower priority for what though? I've never gotten the impression from anything I have read that ROP Gold members get upgraded any too often.

Lower upgrade priority even when using miles to upgrade. Using my WP miles to book an upgrade on KLM, you never know until the very last minute because of the anal-ysts in Amsterdam who do capacity control. It is nigh on impossible to get a confirmation right away even when biz class is 3/4 empty, and usually meaning that upgrade seats are available.

And of course, if Eco is full, an ROP Gold would probably get the nod over a UA Prem Elite for the bump up to Biz.