It’s a frustrating conundrum for loyal frequent fliers who — wooed by lofty promises of airport lounge access, flights for miles, and free upgrades — stand by their airline of choice through thick and thin. They know their loyalty programs so well, there’s no calculator required to suss out their preferred partner’s best features. But then, a nagging sense of betrayal begins to creep in, hushed whispers in the back of their minds reminding them of the growing list of demands issued by their longtime loyalty program.
Redeem more miles and pony up new fees or face the consequences: reduced benefits or reduced status. Maybe it’s time to play the field, they think. Or to book a lower fare — and potentially endure the purgatory of cramped main-cabin seating — with a different airline, just this once. An enticing thought, but with so much time, energy, and money expended in pursuit of elite status, it’s hard to walk away and start all over again.
Then along comes American Airlines with a come-hither offer that seems almost too good to be true. Check us out for four months. We’ll match your Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, or JetBlue loyalty program status for free. What’s the catch? Of course, conditions apply, but the gist is pretty straightforward. American is offering existing members of Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and JetBlue TrueBlue with elite status to experience American AAdvantage at the equivalent level. Submit proof of earned status in another loyalty program. Upon approval, the Instant Status Pass grants matched status with American AAdvantage for four months and includes an opportunity to extend.
Let’s check the fine print
