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The latest iteration of Italy’s national airline – ITA Airways – has been operating since the autumn of 2021. The new airline’s loyalty programme – ITA Volare – has regularly offered status matches. The latest status match offer will be available until 15th September 2022.

Who is eligible?

First of all, you need to become a member of ITA Volare – register here.

Then, you must be in possession of an airline ticket in your own name which is simultaneously sold and operated by ITA Airways. Only tickets with a travel date after 2nd August 2022 will be allowed. If you have no particular intention of flying on ITA Airways, I assume that a cheap, throwaway ticket could be bought (or a fully-refundable one).

You must hold elite status with one of the following airlines. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter if your status expired between 2019 and 2022.

• Alitalia – Millemiglia
• Air India – Flying Returns
• American Airlines – AAdvantage
• ANA – Mileage Club
• Avianca – LifeMiles
• British Airways – Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific – Marco Polo Club
• EL Al – Matmid
• Emirates – Skywards
• Gol Airlines – Smiles
• Iberia – Iberia Plus
• Japan Airlines – Jal Mileage Bank
• Latam – Latam Pass
• Lufthansa – Miles and More
• Qatar Airways- Privilege Club
• Royal Jordanian – Royal Club
• Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
• Swiss Air – Miles & More
• TAP – Miles & Go
• Turkish Airways – Miles & Smiles
• United Airlines – Mileage Plus
• Vistara – Club Vistara

How to apply for the status match

Send an email from the address with which you signed up for the Volare programme to [email protected] following the instructions below:

a. Contained in the subject of the email: Status Match 2022

b. Listed in the text of the email: Full name; “Program of origin” and “Status of origin” (e.g. Miles & More – HON Circle); Volare Frequent Flyer number, ticket number (according to the criteria listed in point 2 of the summary conditions)

c. Please attach a legible copy of your current valid Frequent Flyer program card (digital or physical) and a copy of your identity card¹ (pdf, jpg format)

Your Status Match request will be reviewed and you will be sent a email to confirm if your status has been recognized within 60 days.

Worthwhile?

If you occasionally fly on a Skyteam airline, you may have already participated in a prior iteration of this status match opportunity. But if you are just waking up to this opportunity and/or were ineligible for prior versions (due to the lack of a current competing elite status), an ITA Volare status match will allow you to enjoy benefits on Skyteam alliance airlines.

Moreover, you never know if your ITA Volare elite status might be useful in 2023 for requesting a status match with another airline. Some poorly-designed matches don’t even care whether you’ve actually flown with the competing airline…

Bottom line

You can access ITA’s webpage for their status match campaign by clicking here.

The requirement for booking an ITA Airways flight is new, but shouldn’t be a major obstacle. Of course, you can always just wait for the next status match opportunity from ITA Volare…