Skift Business Traveler: Another Status Match Option for Star Alliance Passengers

What to Know Now

The art of status matching, or matching your status to another airline in order to reap benefits for your day-to-day flying, has been experiencing a revival of late. First, it was Copa Airlines wooing United Airlines passengers. Now, according to View from the Wing, Avianca is also offering status matches to United’s Star Alliance network.

The main benefit of a status match, in a nutshell, is high-level status on a partner international carrier to your favorite airline. Since international elite passengers get lounge access, it’s possible to use the international status to earn domestic lounge access — a benefit worth up to $400/year. For the simple effort of filling out a few forms, it’s absolutely worth it.

Social Quote of the Day

Go for 3 companies, Jack.

Three.

– qhardy | Quentin Hardy, Deputy Tech Editor @ The New York Times

Airlines

Russia’s Second Largest Airline Is Almost Bankrupt: Russia’s second-largest airline, Transaero, is in crisis after two creditors on Friday said they will file bankruptcy proceedings following the collapse of a takeover plan. Read more at Skift

Delta Cutting Staff Along Path to Greater Profitability: Delta Air Lines Inc. is planning an unspecified number of job cuts among its 10,000 management and salaried employees in a move to boost productivity. Read more at Skift

United Chairman’s Flight Investigation Claims First Political Resignation: Gov. Chris Christie’s transportation commissioner will resign this month as federal investigators continue a wide-ranging probe into the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which he previously lobbied on behalf of United Airlines. Read more at Skift

Delta’s Plan to Fill Planes by Limiting Capacity Is Working: Delta’s slowing growth is leading to flights with fewer empty seats. Read more at Skift

Airports

Aeroports de Paris Is in the Market to Buy a Few Fixer-Uppers: Aeroports de Paris’s plan for expanding its airport portfolio is to focus on the fixer-uppers — after investment funds and construction groups pushed the price of major hubs to dizzying levels. Read more at Skift

Heathrow CEO Says Volkswagen Scandal Will Help Fix Airport’s Pollution Problem: Heathrow Airport may benefit from the scandal at Volkswagen AG because it will prod the U.K. to clamp down on diesel pollution, helping bring London’s busiest hub into compliance with European Union rules. Read more at Skift

Duty Free: Is It Really Worth It? Duty-free. The concept is decades old, and yet it continues to perplex travelers. Read more at The New York Times

Southwest Defends Paying $120 Million for Two Gates at Dallas Love Field: Southwest Airlines on Wednesday defended a $120 million payment for two gates at Dallas Love Field, saying the deal was legal and cheaper than the price of access at other airports. Read more at Skift

Tech

Amtrak Launches Its First New Brand Campaign in 15 Years: Amtrak launched its first new brand campaign in 15 years last month to remind people that the rail service network extends across America and not just the popular Northeast U.S. corridor. Read more at Skift

Japan Wants Self-Driving Taxis for the 2020 Olympics: Japan will allow tests of self-driving taxis on public roads with passengers from next year as the country readies itself to showcase the technology by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Read more at Skift

Hotels

Hotel Chains Are Racing to Build a Presence Across Cuba: Executives from major U.S. hotel chains have stepped up their interest in the Communist island in recent months, holding informal talks with Cuban officials as Washington loosens restrictions on U.S. firms operating there. Read more at Skift

Snapchat Filters: W Hotels Launches ‘Wish You Were Here’ Ads: W Hotels, the luxury hotel brand owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and marketed for young travelers, launched a sponsored filter, the latest marketer to try advertising on the disappearing photo app. Read more at IBTimes

Your Turn

Milepooint has relaunched as Insideflyer. Check it out here.

Tips and Comments

Can be sent to gm[at]skift[dot]com or to @grantkmartin

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