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Virgin Atlantic recently expanded its status match programme to include Qatar Airways, offering an additional opportunity for frequent flyers to gain SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits. The programme continues to provide a 12-month status period, with matches processed 72 hours before your qualifying flight.

How to Qualify

For Silver Status:

• Hold second-tier status with an eligible airline
• Have a future Virgin Atlantic flight booked (any cabin, including Economy)
• Award flights are eligible

For Gold Status:

• Must have top-tier status with an eligible airline
• Requires a Premium Economy or Upper Class booking
• Award flights are eligible

The current list of programmes that Virgin will match from is:

Key Points to Remember

• Status is valid for 12 months from upgrade date
• Must not have held Virgin status via match in past 5 years
• Booking must be made before applying
• Status upgrade occurs 72 hours pre-flight

Bottom line

This is particularly valuable for UK travellers, as Virgin’s Gold status now includes SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits across all member airlines.

To maintain status after the match period, Gold members need 1,000 tier points, while Silver requires 400 tier points within the membership year.

Apply for the status match here