Turkish Airlines Status Match

[infinity]

I tried to set up two accounts to re qualify. The problem was they knew my QF number that I used as. WP on the first round so a double dip to TK gold a second time was not possible using the second account

 

[Rugby]

I got my status match email confirmation today and I'm all Smiles. I had a similar experience to Colrad. I applied in Sept and they came back to me at the start of Feb saying declined as I had less than 3 months of Platinum left. By that time I had retained for my new year, so advised them that was no problem and sent them a copy of my new card. Two weeks ago they advised me that they also need a new up to date copy of my statement. At this point I think I might be dealing with a Nigerian scammer, but I duly sent it through and happy days I get the email today.

Mrs Rugby and I will use this for a TK flight in Y we have in May, IST - ZAG. So now we can use the TK lounge at IST which looks very funky, and priority check in and some extra baggage.

Patience is the key to unlocking this one.

Miles and Smiles pack arrived today. Now for the TK IST lounge.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

TK matched my Air New Zealand Gold which is good timing as the Air NZ status dropped to Silver on 1 April. Another 2 years of lounge access in the *A network.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

Miles and Smiles pack arrived today. Now for the TK IST lounge.

How long did the pack take to arrive from the time you got the email confirmation?

 

[FRONT ROWER]

How long did the pack take to arrive from the time you got the email confirmation?

Would expect you would need to wait at least a month in New Zealand.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

My new TK gold card arrived today!

 

[hummel]

My new TK gold card arrived today!

I asked for a replacement ~3 weeks ago.. no luck

 

[Rugby]

First use of the TK Elite card yesterday with our IST-ZAG late afternoon flight yesterday. You have to do an initial security check upon entry into the airport, and Elites have special entry which worked well. No queue at the business class check in, we arrived 3.5hrs before flight, staff were friendly. We hadn't selected seats before check in, which from what I can work out cannot be done until 24hrs out even as an Elite - happy to be corrected. We were given 18 E/F on a 737-800 - and I'm an aisle guy but the holiday brain didn't pick it up until later, and it turned out not to be an issue anyway.

The second priority security and immigration queue work well too. The famous lounge was great, we camped downstairs, which was quieter. Food was superb - Turkish tortellini, kebab and pide were the highlights. No champagne, but the wines were a decent business class selection of 6 options. We had a bus gate so priority boarding didn't work, but when we got onboard we had a spare seat in our row of 3 - and there were only 3 spare seats in whY, so it looks like there might be TK shadow at play too.

The the plane was a newish 737, with back of the seat IFE, food and beverage was a solid dinner service for this almost 2hr flight. All up I have to say I was very happy with the TK product. It was better than our BA LHR-IST Y run a few days before. Well worth the effort of the status match.

 

[Flashback]

First use of the TK Elite card yesterday with our IST-ZAG late afternoon flight yesterday. You have to do an initial security check upon entry into the airport, and Elites have special entry which worked well. No queue at the business class check in, we arrived 3.5hrs before flight, staff were friendly. We hadn't selected seats before check in, which from what I can work out cannot be done until 24hrs out even as an Elite - happy to be corrected. We were given 18 E/F on a 737-800 - and I'm an aisle guy but the holiday brain didn't pick it up until later, and it turned out not to be an issue anyway.

The second priority security and immigration queue work well too. The famous lounge was great, we camped downstairs, which was quieter. Food was superb - Turkish tortellini, kebab and pide were the highlights. No champagne, but the wines were a decent business class selection of 6 options. We had a bus gate so priority boarding didn't work, but when we got onboard we had a spare seat in our row of 3 - and there were only 3 spare seats in whY, so it looks like there might be TK shadow at play too.

The the plane was a newish 737, with back of the seat IFE, food and beverage was a solid dinner service for this almost 2hr flight. All up I have to say I was very happy with the TK product. It was better than our BA LHR-IST Y run a few days before. Well worth the effort of the status match.

You need to call TK to preselect seats, opens 100 days prior to departure.

 

[pagingjoan]

Interesting.
I have selected seats in advance, on line, for TK - but always for Business, now that I think about it.
Would that be the difference, perhaps?

Have also had Priority Boarding, even with a bus gate, where the first bus departed immediately all those in the priority line were on board. That has been the case on several flights over the past two years. May depend on destination, section of the terminal etc?

Once on board, consistently good service, and excellent food offerings, in my experience.

All in all, the TK Status Match was a gem. I've thanked the OP previously, but happy to do so again. Would never have flown TK without that.

 

[Flashback]

Interesting.
I have selected seats in advance, on line, for TK - but always for Business, now that I think about it.
Would that be the difference, perhaps?

Have also had Priority Boarding, even with a bus gate, where the first bus departed immediately all those in the priority line were on board. That has been the case on several flights over the past two years. May depend on destination, section of the terminal etc?

Once on board, consistently good service, and excellent food offerings, in my experience.

All in all, the TK Status Match was a gem. I've thanked the OP previously, but happy to do so again. Would never have flown TK without that.

Might be a new thing. Mine was business also - but it was 2 years ago (USDM redemption).

 

[pagingjoan]

Might be a new thing. Mine was business also - but it was 2 years ago (USDM redemption).

May have some more TK flights over the next couple of months. Will keep an eye on it and report back.
(Ours were all paid flights, no redemptions.)

 

[amaroo]

The TK status match was a great idea . FWIW I was able to select seats via their webpage for our Y flight earlier this year.

Their website is one massive frustration device!

 

[Baysider]

Interesting.
I have selected seats in advance, on line, for TK - but always for Business, now that I think about it.
Would that be the difference, perhaps?

It can be hit and miss. I have usually had to call even in J as online has only offered window/aisle selection. May be route dependent.

 

[pagingjoan]

It can be hit and miss. I have usually had to call even in J as online has only offered window/aisle selection. May be route dependent.

Yes, that's another possibility. I've never called to make the seat selection but i do have dim memories of it not being straight forward online - but working eventually.

(Maybe it depends on what you shout at the screen, when the site is not cooperating! )

 

[Rugby]

The TK status match was a great idea . FWIW I was able to select seats via their webpage for our Y flight earlier this year.

Their website is one massive frustration device!

You get my vote for next Turkish Minister for Transport for being able to do that online!

 

[JessicaTam]

You get my vote for next Turkish Minister for Transport for being able to do that online!

I am not sure that punishment is the appropriate response!

 

[Baysider]

The Turkish language site works more smoothly than the English language site. I have had much better results using Google Translate on the Turkish site than trying to get anywhere on the English site. Same with profile changes, etc.

 

[pagingjoan]

The Turkish language site works more smoothly than the English language site. I have had much better results using Google Translate on the Turkish site than trying to get anywhere on the English site. Same with profile changes, etc.

Hmmm.
That may explain my success also.

I'm usually doing such bookings from somewhere far from home and get used to doing quick and dirty translations of sites.
It's quite possible that my successful seat allocations have been done online through the Turkish site.

Whatever it takes!

 

[Swan]

Applied with Qantas Platinum and an activity statement with a lot of flights, including two through DOH, though admittedly there were a lot of award flights.

Received a reply to my application for Status Match within 48 hours: "We are happy to inform you that your card has
been upgraded to Classic Plus which is an award of preferring Turkish Airlines for your flights"

As I have previously travelled extensively in Turkey the use of lounges for domestic flight will be of little value.

Is there anything further I can do to get a proper status match?