ITA Airways is providing an appealing status match, even for those with expired elite statuses.

This new status match opportunity grants SkyPriority benefits on SkyTeam alliance flights, such as those with Delta Air Lines, and intriguingly allows you to match expired statuses as well.

Italy's ITA Airways, which succeeded the former national carrier Alitalia, is extending a status match to elite members from over twenty airlines, including American Airlines.

You have until Aug. 19 to request ITA Airways to acknowledge your elite status in its Volare frequent flyer program that matches your status from another eligible airline. Processing may take up to 60 days.

What is ITA Airways all about?

ITA Airways is a state-owned airline headquartered in Rome. It commenced operations following the closure of Alitalia, which had faced bankruptcy since 2017 and was subsequently nationalized by the Italian government during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline is part of the SkyTeam alliance and has established codeshare partnerships with several prominent international carriers, including Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM.

ITA Airways offers direct flights from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Dulles International Airport (IAD), Miami International Airport (MIA), and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Additionally, it maintains a broad short-haul network throughout Europe.

What does ITA Airways' status match entail?

ITA Airways has welcome elite status holders from 19 different airlines to apply for a status match within its Volare frequent flyer program. This eligibility extends to elite-status members from both SkyTeam and non-SkyTeam partners, including well-known U.S. programs like American AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, and Emirates Skywards. You can see the complete list of eligible programs here.

To participate in this status match promotion, elite members must first enroll in the Volare program and fill out a status match request form, which requires them to upload evidence of their status with another airline. Note that you will not qualify for this status match if you have previously applied for a Volare status match, as the program has conducted such offers in the past.

What makes this status match particularly generous is that, unlike most programs that require you to possess current elite status for matching, ITA's Volare program will accept expired statuses, provided they lapsed no earlier than January 2023.

Therefore, even if your elite status expired 18 months ago, you can still match it to ITA Volare.

If granted, the status will remain valid until Dec. 31, 2025, and matched members will earn 10,000 Volare status qualifying points, which can be used for renewing or upgrading their status thereafter.

ITA's elite tiers 

ITA features four tiers in its Volare frequent flyer program, starting with Club Smart as the entry-level tier. Members then progress to Club Plus, where they begin to enjoy SkyPriority benefits through SkyTeam. Club Plus members receive priority boarding, expedited baggage delivery, increased baggage allowance, and check-in at business-class counters.

The next levels are Club Premium and Club Executive, both of which grant access to lounges. Each of these tiers is recognized as SkyTeam Elite Plus.

Depending on your status with an eligible airline program, ITA may match up to the highest Club Executive tier within the Volare program, such as for elite members of American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and Concierge Key.

Benefits of SkyTeam elite status

One major reason this status match program is appealing for customers of other airlines, particularly in the U.S., is the chance to utilize the status match at ITA Airways to secure SkyTeam elite status. Just to note, SkyTeam has two elite tiers: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus.

According to SkyTeam's website, once a traveler achieves elite status with one member airline, they automatically become a SkyTeam Elite member, enjoying recognition across all 20 airlines in the alliance. This initiative presents a unique chance for elite members of other airlines' frequent flyer programs to access elite benefits when flying with SkyTeam carriers, including Delta.

SkyTeam Elite Plus status (Volare Club Premium and Club Executive) provides the following benefits:

• Guaranteed full-fare Y-class reservation on fully booked long-haul flights, at least 24 hours prior to departure
• Access to airport lounges globally, regardless of travel class, for members holding a boarding pass, plus a guest
• Priority handling of baggage upon arrival, irrespective of travel class
• Additional baggage allowance

ITA Airways manages its lounges at Rome and Milan Linate Airport (LIN). Furthermore, ITA's website outlines the airport lounges accessible to its members, which include several Delta and Air France lounges in both the U.S. and Europe. Generally, SkyTeam first-class, business-class, and Elite Plus members flying internationally can access lounges if traveling with an airline in the alliance.

Lufthansa Group is planning to acquire ITA Airways later this year. The airline will be integrated into Lufthansa's Miles & More loyalty program and, according to the announcement, will shift from SkyTeam to Star Alliance. With the status match valid until December 2025, it remains uncertain whether the SkyTeam status will transition to Star Alliance elite status.

In summary

This is a highly generous status match proposal from ITA Airways, although the matching programs do not include some major players like Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.

A status match that lasts approximately 18 months, including the ability to match statuses that expired after Dec. 31, 2022, presents a fantastic opportunity for gaining elite status in a SkyTeam program with minimal effort involved.

This status match opportunity is only available until Aug. 19, so act quickly if you wish to benefit from it.