Air France restricts the ability to book First Class awards to elite members. This is well known. So when a status match opportunity came up late last year, I quickly sent Air France my credentials to match over to their Gold Elite status.
Confirmed Gold Status
It wasn’t clear if Air France would process the status match requests. But I can confirm I’ve received email notification from Air France Flying Blue confirming I am in fact now Gold status. 
I logged into my Flying Blue account and noticed I now am Gold Elite.
Gold Benefits
Flying Blue Gold status comes with many benefits including:
- 75% bonus miles
- Access to elite awards
- SkyPriority access and preferred treatment
- Guaranteed seat in Economy Class
- Exclusive Elite reservation line
- Longe access
- Check-in and transfer benefits
- Extra baggage allowance
- Weight destination concept (Korean Airlines)
- Status carry over
You can read the full details of the Gold benefits over at AirFrance’s website. 
Bottom Line
When a status match opportunity comes along once in a blue moon, make sure you take advantage of it as soon as possible. Because I jumped at the status match opportunity, I know have all the Flying Blue benefits of Gold status including Flex and Elite awards. Now I can transfer American Express Membership Rewards from the many 100,000 signup bonus offers I received to book an Air France Elite Award.
Has your status match been processed with Air France? What Gold Elite benefit are you most excited about?
Related Posts
- Instant Flying Blue Gold Status
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- Air France A380 Business Class from Paris
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why are you so excited about paying fuel surcharges?
Aren’t the AF F awards like ~160k?
Hi Kyunbit – No. But try to find Business availability on the LAX to PPT route and you’d appreciate booking an elite award when no other availability exits. The point is, now it’s available to book because of the status match, which only took a few moments on time to complete.
Hi Alan – They are more than Business, depends on route.
With 0 miles, you’re not going to go very far, Elite awards or not
any trip to bora bora – the flight cost is probably the least of concerns =p
I’m a bit confused … author initially says only AF F is restricted to its own members… But then touts J on LAX-PPT as a benefit … so is it true or false that DL miles cannot book that flight ?
I got my gold status match confirmation email yesterday as well.
Can you book AF F awards using Korean Air miles ?
AF awards in F are only available for elites in the FB program and run for around 400K return (only flex awards available). Together with the hefty fuel charge, extremely poor redemption and not worth it.