New Etihad Status Match for Australians

Etihad Airways has brought back its status match offer for eligible frequent flyers living in Australia. This time, there’s no application fee for the Gold status match and Virgin Australia Velocity members can participate.

If you’re eligible for the Etihad status match, you’ll initially get to enjoy six months of Etihad Guest Silver or Gold status. If you fly Etihad at least once within those six months, your status will be extended for a further year. There is a small fee that only applies if you’re matching from Silver status.

Etihad Guest status comes with benefits not only when you fly Etihad Airways, but also with partner airlines ANA, Korean Air, Air Serbia and Gulf Air!

Etihad is also currently a partner of Virgin Australia, but this partnership will end on 1 June 2025. That was just announced this week, so we suspect the timing of this status match offer is not a coincidence.

Here’s how this limited-time offer works…

Eligible airline status tiers for the Etihad match

To take advantage of this latest offer, you would need to live in Australia and hold status with an eligible other airline. These are the eligible airlines:

• Air India (Flying Returns)
• British Airways (Executive Club)
• Emirates (Skywards)
• Qatar Airways (Privilege Club)
• Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer)
• Turkish Airlines (Miles&Smiles)
• Virgin Australia (Velocity)

Qantas was an eligible airline in Etihad’s last status match offer, but not this time. You can see the full list of airlines and eligible tiers on the status match FAQ page.

If you already hold the equivalent of Silver status with any of the above airlines, you can get a match to Etihad Guest Silver status for USD59 (~AU$90). If you have Gold or higher status with an eligible airline, Etihad will waive the application fee.

Etihad is not offering instant Platinum status. If you have Velocity Platinum status, for example, you’ll be offered a match to Etihad Gold.

Etihad is concurrently running a status match for Indian residents, but with less generous terms.

How to apply

If you’re eligible, you can apply for this status match on the dedicated Etihad status match website. You’ll need to enter your name, email address, Etihad Guest number and country of residence.

You’ll also need to provide:

• Proof of your current frequent flyer status (e.g. a photo of your membership card), and
• Proof of your residential address in Australia or India (e.g. a government-issued ID).

Etihad will inform you within three business days whether your status match has been approved. If it is, your Etihad Guest account will be upgraded to Silver or Gold status within five business days.

Fly once with Etihad to get a further year of status

Once your account is upgraded, you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of your Etihad Silver or Gold status for six months.

To extend your status for a further 12 months, you just need to take at least one Etihad Airways marketed and operated flight during the trial period. You must earn at least 1 Etihad Guest mile for this flight, so reward bookings don’t qualify.

What you get with Etihad status

Etihad Guest recently made major changes to its frequent flyer program, including the benefits you receive with status. Status holders now receive “Core Benefits” as standard, plus a choice of Custom and Beyond Benefits.

Etihad Silver benefits

Core Benefits of Etihad Guest Silver status include:

• 25% bonus Etihad Guest miles on flights
• Priority check-in at Abu Dhabi

Etihad Guest Silver members can also choose two of the following Custom Benefits:

• Etihad Business Lounge access in Abu Dhabi (only)
• 10% off extra baggage
• Two reward shop vouchers

These benefits aren’t quite as solid as the benefits that were previously available before the June 2024 program changes.

Etihad Gold benefits

Additional Etihad Guest Gold tier Core Benefits include:

• 50% bonus Etihad Guest miles on flights
• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Fast-track immigration and baggage at selected airports (excluding Sydney)
• Priority baggage
• Complimentary standard seat selection (self + 1 person)
• 25% discount off Wi-Fi on Etihad flights
• Dedicated Etihad Airways contact centre
• Avis Budget tier match

In addition, Gold members can choose four of these Custom Benefits:

• Lounge access
• 15kg extra baggage allowance
• Chauffeur service on Business and First GuestSeat reward bookings
• 2x Chauffeur service on Economy GuestSeat reward bookings
• 1x refund on a GuestSeat booking
• 2x home check-in service in Abu Dhabi
• Four reward shop vouchers

Plus, Gold members can select two Beyond Benefits:

• 2x Business Class lounge passes
• 1x Silver Tier nomination
• 10,000 bonus Etihad Guest miles

Etihad Guest benefits when flying partner airlines

Some of these tier benefits also apply when flying with Etihad’s partner airlines, including Virgin Australia until 1 June 2025.

For example, when flying Virgin Australia, Etihad Guest Silver members are currently entitled to:

• Priority check-in (international flights only)
• One extra piece of checked baggage (except on Economy Lite tickets)
• 10% bonus miles (when crediting the flight to Etihad Guest)

Etihad Guest Gold members flying on Virgin Australia receive:

• Virgin Australia Lounge access (plus one guest)
• Priority baggage
• Priority boarding
• Priority check-in (domestic & international flights)
• One extra piece of checked baggage (except on Economy Lite tickets)
• 25% bonus miles (when crediting the flight to Etihad Guest)

You can also access selected elite status benefits when flying on the following Etihad partner airlines:

• Air Serbia
• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Gulf Air
• Korean Air

Reciprocal status benefits may also be added in the future on Air France and KLM.

See the Etihad Guest website for a full list of partner airlines and service benefits.

Other current status match opportunities

The Etihad Guest status match is one of several status match opportunities currently available to Australians.

Other current status matches and challenges available include:

• Delta status match challenge (SkyTeam)
• Vietnam Airlines status match (SkyTeam)
• United status match challenge (Star Alliance)
• Turkish Airlines status match (Star Alliance)

Qantas has also just launched a Status Fast Track offer for New Zealand residents.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.