Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Welcome to Smart With Points, the podcast where we dive into the world of travelling with miles and points. I'm your host, Jack, and I'm excited to share some fantastic news with you today. If you're a points enthusiast like me, you'll love this: Royal Jordanian has just relaunched their popular status match programme, and it's a game-changer for those of us who have top-tier hotel status but are struggling with BA's new tier point requirements. I recently completed my own journey to BA Gold through some creative tier point runs, and I can tell you firsthand how valuable oneworld status can be. While this match won't get you all the way to Gold, it's an excellent opportunity to secure Silver-equivalent benefits for a fraction of the usual effort. The match costs one hundred and ninety-nine dollars, which is about one hundred and sixty pounds. Now, that might seem steep at first glance, but when you consider that BA Silver typically requires six hundred tier points and thousands in flight spending, it's actually quite reasonable. Just the seat selection fees you'll save on a couple of long-haul trips could cover that cost. So, what's different this time around? Well, this iteration of the match is slightly more restrictive than last year's version, with fewer hotel programmes participating. However, the key ones are still there: Marriott Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, and Accor Diamond and Platinum. So, what do you actually get with this match? You'll get Royal Jordanian Gold Sparrow status, which equates to oneworld Sapphire, or BA Silver equivalent. This means you'll enjoy business class lounge access, including a guest, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and free seat selection at booking, which is a massive money-saver on BA. I regularly use our British Airways Tier Point Calculator to track status progress, and this match essentially lets you bypass hundreds of tier points worth of flying. Now, there are a few important things to note: the status is valid for twelve months, which gives you a decent window to enjoy the benefits. However, you'll need to be resident in an eligible country, and the UK is included. The match will close on the 17th of January, 2025, and limited slots are available, so don't wait around. You can't match to Platinum Hawk, which is BA Gold equivalent, but that's not a bad thing, considering the value you're getting with this match. So, what's my take on this? Well, for anyone with qualifying hotel status, this is a no-brainer if you fly BA or other oneworld airlines with any regularity. Even if you only take two or three trips per year, the lounge access and seat selection benefits alone make it worthwhile. The real sweet spot is for those who have Marriott Platinum or above through regular stays. You're essentially converting hotel loyalty into airline status, which can significantly enhance your travel experience. If you're interested in building up your hotel status to qualify for matches like this, I'd recommend checking out our credit card guides for personal and business cards, as many offer fast-track status opportunities. So, are you ready to apply? If you're interested, don't wait around – these matches tend to fill up quickly. You'll need to create a Royal Jordanian Royal Club account, have proof of your current hotel status, be ready to pay the one hundred and ninety-nine dollar fee, and apply through their official status match page. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Smart With Points. If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest news and tips on travelling with miles and points, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on all major platforms or visit our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk. We'll catch you in the next episode!