In October 2021, Alitalia officially operated its last flight. Now, Italy is by no means left without a flag carrier: The Italian government launched a new airline called Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA for short).
ITA is currently owned by the Italian state and has taken over many employees and aircraft from Alitalia. However, ITA had to get rid of the old Millemiglia frequent flyer program. There is now a status match that is open not only to frequent flyers of the former Alitalia program, but also to many others.
Among other things, an existing status at the BA Executive Club, Miles&More, United MileagePlus and many other programs is matched until September 30, 2022. However, you have to book an ITA flight for the match to be accepted.
Recognized Frequent Flyer Programs
According to the ITA website, only the following frequent flyer programs are matched:
- Alitalia Millemiglia
- Air India Flying Returns
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- ANA Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club
- El Al Matmid
- Emirates Skywards
- Gol Airlines Smiles
- Iberia Plus
- Japan Airlines Jal Mileage Bank
- Latam Pass
- Miles&More
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- TAP Miles&Go
- Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles
- United MileagePlus
- Club Vistara
The selection seems a bit random, e.g. SAS Eurobonus and Etihad Guest are not listed. You can of course try your luck even if the program is not listed, but with the above, you are on the safe side.
Confirmed Matches
The following matches have been confirmed by our readers (thanks):
- BA Executive Club Gold → Executive
- United MileagePlus Gold → Premium
- United MileagePlus Platinum → Executive
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Elite Plus → Executive
- Royal Jordanian Platinum Hawk → Executive
- Miles&More Senator → Premium
- Iberia Plus Oro → Premium
- Qatar Privilege Club Gold → Premium
- Flying Blue Gold → Premium¹
- TAP Gold → Premium
- KrisFlyer Gold → Premium
- Emirates Skywards Silver → Plus
Conditions
The following restrictions must be followed:
- The status match is valid until September 30, 2022
- Your current frequent flyer card must be (or have been) valid in 2019, 2020, 2021 or 2022
- Anyone who has already participated in the status match in the past is excluded
- Processing can take up to 60 days
- The match is only available in conjunction with an existing ITA flight ticket. Oddly enough, no proof is required, but to be on the safe side you should send it along
Requesting the Status Match
Requesting the match is very easy. First, you need a free account with the frequent flyer program ITA Volare. You can easily create one using the following link:
After the account has been created, you must first confirm the email address. You can then log into your account on the ITA website and find your membership number.
The status match is only available if you have a valid ticket for a flight with ITA. The flight must be operated by ITA and also carry an ITA Airways flight number. A suitable flight ticket is available, e.g. from Barcelona to Rome for €42:
Now you have to email statusmatch@ita-airways.com the following information:
- Subject: Status Match 2022
- Content of the email:
- First and last name
- Frequent flyer program
- Current status at the frequent flyer program
- Frequent flyer number at ITA Volare
- Booking reference of the existing booking (although not listed on the website, it may be useful)
In addition, two photos are required:
- Photo of ID card or passport to confirm identity (front and back)
- Photo/screenshot of the current frequent flyer card
Status Match requests will be accepted until September 30, 2022. The application should then be processed after 60 days at the latest. Unfortunately, it is not explained how long the status is then valid. In the last campaigns, however, it was always valid for at least one year.
Benefits
There are four tiers with the following benefits:
- Smart:
- Entry level
- Plus:
- 10% mileage bonus on ITA flights
- Priority check in, boarding, and luggage
- Additional baggage allowance (probably 1 piece)
- Free seat selection
- SkyTeam Elite status with partner airlines (including 1 piece of baggage allowance)
- Premium:
- All the benefits of Plus status
- SkyPriority Benefits (Check-in, Boarding & Baggage)
- 20% mileage bonus on ITA flights
- Lounge access
- SkyTeam Elite Plus status with partner airlines (including lounge access on all international flights)
- Executive:
- All the benefits of Premium status
- 30% mileage bonus on ITA flights
Unfortunately, the benefits of the SkyTeam Elite status need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Even though ITA is already a full member of the SkyTeam alliance, many airlines do not yet have any input fields to properly enter an ITA status. And even if that works, there will probably still be some problems, especially for accessing the lounge.
Comments (10)
Positive Surprise: ITA Volare Premium Level (Sky Team Elite-Plus) granted me +guest lounge access to the KLM (non-Schengen) Crown Lounge in AMS and the Air France Lounge in CDG Schengen 2F:
Recently flew: Europe – AMS – Intercontinental / Intercontinental – CDG -Europe with KLM (outbound) and Air France (return). Booked: Economy Class Flexible Ticket issued by KLM.
Although the ITA Volare status unfortunately still cannot be registred in the booking and also not at check-in, fortunately “Sky Priority” was noted on the boarding pass for all segments for both outbound and return flights. This was because the “Sky Priority” benefits are granted for flexible tickets in Europe. But apparently also for intercontinental connecting and in-bound “feeder”-flights. But that does not yet mean lounge access too.
In Amsterdam, I had hoped to get access to the KLM lounge, as there are some positive reports about this. It didn’t work with the boarding pass, but after a short discussion with the lounge receptionist, showing my electronic membership card for the ITA Volare Premium Level, and some quick work on the computer by the agent, I was granted access together with my guest.
For the return flight via CDG, I had actually assumed that there would be no lounge access, as I had only found negative experience reports so far. To my positive surprise, the employee at the lounge reception entered a few things by hand, just like in Amsterdam, and access was granted: After showing my electronic membership card of the ITA Volare Premium Levels / Sky Team Elite Plus, he said “Club premium, yes sure”.
This was VERY good as the new 2F lounge in CDG is really recommendable, not to mention the champagne served at the table and the friendly staff.
Awesome! Glad to hear it
Anyone has a list of the partner airlines of the SkyTeam accepting this programme when booking? Last time I checked KLM/AF still nothing, so for now this match programme seems useless…
Just received email from ITA Volare with ITA Airways’ Volare Premium Club showing the Skyteam Elite Plus icon for both “Premium Level” as well as “Executive Level” (of my friend and EXPIRY DATE 01/23. Has anyone else got the “Skyteam Elite”-only icon? Maybe any anyone with “Plus Level”?
Matched status works without a problem. Just present the status match email confirmation at check in at Sky Priority or Business. Status Level “Executive” has one piece of check-in luggage included without extra pay, even in the light tariff. Flights so far completely regular.
Qatar Gold member matched as Premium (Gold). The result within 24 hours by filling the online form.
i tried this with aegean airlines. status match rejected.
anyone else had luck with aegean ?
Matched with Turkish Airlines Elite Plus (i.e. the black card) and got matched to Executive.
no frequent flyer number given, nor an explanation which tier “Executive” means in their Volare program
ITA wrote “Save this email and always take it with you to take advantage of some special services immediately!”
Took not even 24 hours to process.
Curious what happens next. Will book first flight soon.
The list is perhaps not as random as it first appears; SAS flyers have not currently been targeted, but ITA doesn’t fly to either Denmark, Norway or Sweden. That may come later, when their network expands into SAS territory.
That Egyptair and Aegean aren’t on the list is perhaps a greater surprise!
That Middle Eastern Airlines were included, despite no service to Beirut, could perhaps be explained by their inclusion of all Skyteam member airlines based in Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Etihad Guest may indeed raise some eyebrows given their absence, and also given their previous association with Alitalia.
matched with Delta Platinum and got into 24h the match to Diamonds (Executive).