Air Berlin status match

[aikman]

Came across this news from this blog and thought it might be useful to some.


You are already a status member of another frequent flyer programme?
Match your status with topbonus so that you can enjoy a whole range of frequent flyer benefits from the moment you join us.

This is how the topbonus Status Match works:

• Email us at [email protected] and provide the following information:
  • Your topbonus number
  • A legible scan/photo/copy of your other valid frequent flyer card
• Your application will be reviewed and processed by our Service-Team.

Terms and Conditions

Status Match promotion terms and condition for frequent flyer programmes from other airlines:

• You must register for topbonus membership before requesting status match.
• Status Match applications must be emailed to [email protected]
• Please attach the following information:
  • A scan of your current valid frequent flyer card for which you are requesting a Status Match
  • Your topbonus number

• As a status card holder with an alternative frequent flyer programme you will be awarded the corresponding status with topbonus for a probationary period of 12 months (Platinum Card excluded)
• Within this probationary period, once you achieve the required number of status miles or flights pro rata, you will be awarded the status for a further year:
  • Collect 25,000 status miles or 24 flights within 12 months and you will be awarded a Silver Card
  • Collect 50,000 status miles or 24 flights within 12 months and you will be awarded a Gold Card
• A Status Match may only be applied once and once only and is available only for Silver and Gold status
• This Status Match offer is valid only for select frequent flyer programme of other airlines
• A Status Match with oneworld airline partners is not possible.
• In addition to the terms and conditions of this promotion, the topbonus terms and conditions (available to view at topbonus - airberlin.com) and the airberlin general terms and conditions of carriage (available to view at airberlin - Flights to Berlin and Dusseldorf | airberlin.com - airberlin.com) also apply to all flight bookings in the order listed.

 

[yohy?!]

i asked them about this previously and they were only willing to match programs for carriers that operate in their direct network,

My CX and QF were turned down but my A3 Gold was accepted

 

[777]

I took advantage of this last year. Quite a handy program because they allow access to both QF and VA lounges domestically!

 

[Steady]

i asked them about this previously and they were only willing to match programs for carriers that operate in their direct network,

My CX and QF were turned down but my A3 Gold was accepted

Anyone have experience using TK elite with this status match?

 

[deejo77]

• A Status Match may only be applied once and once only and is available only for Silver and Gold status
• This Status Match offer is valid only for select frequent flyer programme of other airlines
• A Status Match with oneworld airline partners is not possible.

Anyone tried VA? they are of course partners but not oneworld....I just wish they would list the ones they are willing to accept

 

[Sbv72]

Was denied last month trying to match from VA:

"I am sorry, but we can not match with your Frequent Flyer Cards. We can not match with our topbonus Partners."

 

[Steady]

Anyone have experience using TK elite with this status match?

I've sent in a request to match the TK elite card - will advise when/if I hear back.

 

[Isochronous]

I gather they won't match at Emerald level though?

 

[slc767338]

I gather they won't match at Emerald level though?

Your gathering would be correct.

 

[Daver6]

I might give this a whirl with my Etihad status.

 

[Mattg]

I might give this a whirl with my Etihad status.

I doubt they would match Etihad status as EY is one of airberlin's main partners...

 

[Steady]

I've sent in a request to match the TK elite card - will advise when/if I hear back.

Well I guess this confirms that they will status match the Miles&Smiles programme.

I received this about 11 hours after sending off my request


Dear Mr. Steady,

thank you for your status match request. You will receive your topbonus GoldCard in 14 days per post.

Best regards,
Your topbonus Team

 

[tyrolean]

AB is quite generous with status matching.
I did a match last December. I gave them my QF-Plat and my LH-Gold card. They accepted the LH card.

They offer a Credit card in Germany (you need a German Bank account), that gives a Status Mile per every Euro spend (Supermarket + Shell Filling stations *2). They are quite generous when you fly with AB flight numbers. So it is quite a good addition to my QF-Plat card.
I changed my credit card from LH to AB and I credit all AB shorthaul segments to AB. Last year they had very interesting Credit card promos making a requalification quite easy.


Crediting Business Class segments to AB is not that good, as they only yield in some little miles. As long as I can keep my QF-Plat, I will still credit them to QFF. An exception are the routes that were made simpler and fairer.

So quite nice to have many options: Etihad and VA with AB + Emirates with QF + Staralliance with LH.

 

[ksthommo]

I doubt they would match Etihad status as EY is one of airberlin's main partners...

Gave it a shot with my expiring end of March Etihad Gold Card, just received the email

"thank you for your status match request. You will receive your topbonus Gold Card in 14 days per post.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us."

Logged on and sure enough red as turned to gold.

Thanks for posting the info aikman

 

[Mattg]

Gave it a shot with my expiring end of March Etihad Gold Card, just received the email

"thank you for your status match request. You will receive your topbonus Gold Card in 14 days per post.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us."

Logged on and sure enough red as turned to gold.

Thanks for posting the info aikman

That's fantastic. Happy to stand corrected.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

I sent in a scan of my Air NZ gold card and I was matched to silver! Mmmmmm.

I think I'll follow it up.

 

[samh004]

I took advantage of this last year. Quite a handy program because they allow access to both QF and VA lounges domestically!

Can you earn miles from both airlines though? That'd be a truly handy card. Say goodbye to either domestic program and just earn overseas!?

 

[Mattg]

Can you earn miles from both airlines though? That'd be a truly handy card. Say goodbye to either domestic program and just earn overseas!?

I believe you can but the QF earn domestically is abysmal. You would get 110 miles for a SYD-MEL flight in Disc Y, and considering you need 50,000 status miles to qualify for Gold, you would need to fly this route 455 times in a year to qualify :!:. On VA the rate for Disc Y jumps from 25% of miles flown to 50%, so you would only need to fly it 228 times per year.

Having said that, it is plausible for a few reasons:
1. The rate is more favourable in Full Y and premium cabins (on Qantas it's 100% of miles flown in flexible economy, 110% in Y+, 125% in J and 150% in F; on VA it's 100% in flexible economy, 125% in Y+ and 150-200% in business class)
2. If you actually flew AB or HG (or AB marketed flights) every once in a while the miles could accumulate quickly as Gold and Platinum cardholders get 40% bonus status miles on airberlin marketed flights. (Aren't some VA flights marketed by AB?)
3. Those who fly longer segments would obviously earn a lot more as the mileage earn is distance based - if flying in a premium cabin, this becomes a lot more attractive. E.g. a QF flight from SYD to LAX in Business earns 9360 miles, so 3 return trips per year would be enough to earn Topbonus Gold. On VA the rates are more attractive and business class earns 150% in fare classes D & I or 200% in J or C.
4. There is no minimum number of AB flights one must take per year to qualify for status
5. I notice that AB has a current promotion whereby you can also earn Topbonus gold by taking 60 flights regardless of length. This seems to be a promotion that keeps getting extended - currently it is good until 31 Dec 2015 but will likely be ongoing. However again, only AB marketed flights count!

So, it's probably no good for someone who only travels economy within Australia, but once you throw in a few business class trips per year, or you spend some time in Germany flying on AB, it becomes quite attractive.

 

[aaronjames000]

Sent both mine and my wifes Etihad gold cards (in separate emails).... 24 hours later we both get this email.. hooray!

Dear Mr.aaronjames000,

thank you for your status match request.
You will receive your topbonus Gold Card in 14 days per post.

Best regards,
Your topbonus Team

 

[Sbv72]

Sent both mine and my wifes Etihad gold cards (in separate emails).... 24 hours later we both get this email.. hooray!

Dear Mr.aaronjames000,

thank you for your status match request.
You will receive your topbonus Gold Card in 14 days per post.

Best regards,
Your topbonus Team

I'll be having another go now.