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It’s Back: Match Your British Airways Status to Flying Blue
Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France-KLM, has once again launched a status match for British Airways status holders living in the UK.
Matches include:
- BA Bronze – Flying Blue Silver – SkyTeam Elite – £79
- BA Silver – Flying Blue Gold – SkyTeam Elite Plus – £149
- BA Gold / Gold Guest List – Flying Blue Platinum – £249
You’ll enjoy elite benefits for 12 months.
This is the perfect opportunity to try out having Flying Blue / SkyTeam status, whether you want to hold status alongside BA or make a permanent alliance move.
It’s a great time to get in there before the likely rush of status matches this Spring, when people start to lose their BA tier.
Air France and KLM have 19 combined UK departure points (ideal if you live further from London), with Air France Gatwick flights also launching on 29th March. As a SkyTeam status holder, you’ll also receive benefits when flying with airlines like Delta and Virgin Atlantic, which gives plenty of flexibility.
If you match to Flying Blue Platinum, you’ll benefit from being able to book Air France La Première redemptions. With Flying Blue Gold status and above, you’ll be able to use the Air France lounge at T4, due to open this Spring. You’ll find a dedicated spa, relaxation and work areas.
If you are not already a Flying Blue member, you will need to join the programme first. To apply, you will need to provide proof of your airline status and pay the fee. They will then email you within 3 business days. Once approved, the status should show in your account in 5 business days.
After the success of the status match last year, I’m not surprised another has been launched. Over 4,000 BA status holders had their match approved. If you think you’ll be flying with SkyTeam airlines enough to make the cost worth it, this is an excellent opportunity. You can read our full guide to Flying Blue here.
Visit flyingblue.statusmatch.com/ba for your match >>>
Emirates 777X Business Class Cabin Revealed
Since Emirates ordered 270 777X aircraft, we’ve been wondering what the cabins may look like. We now have our first real hint, thanks to a render that briefly appears in an official Emirates YouTube video featuring Emirates President Sir Tim Clark.
It shows suite-style Business Class seats with sliding privacy doors, plus a small onboard lounge.
Emirates appears to be opting for a 1-2-1 staggered layout. The cabin looks modern, with a calmer and more contemporary colour palette.
The seat itself looks a bit like a bespoke version of Safran’s Unity Seat, which is how many top airlines are designing their Business Class seats. There are privacy doors, higher walls, and direct aisle access for everyone, rather than the old 2-3-2 layout. This is precisely what Emirates needed to do, and they have clearly listened to flyer feedback. Doors in Business Cabins are well overdue.
The lounge is shown as a dedicated area between the Business Class cabins. This looks more like a small social area than the full A380-style onboard bar.
This kind of cabin would bring Emirates in line with some of the best Business Class products. They fly out of 8 UK airports, so there will be plenty of opportunities to try the 777X if it is placed on any UK routes. The aircraft is expected to begin flying in 2027, despite many delays.
Will the 777X convert you to Emirates Skywards? Discover our guides to Emirates Skywards and how to earn and spend Skywards miles.
New Radisson Blu Opens at Paris CDG Airport
The Radisson Blu Charles De Gaulle Airport Terminal Hotel has just opened its doors. This is excellent timing. The hotel is located in Roissypôle and is just minutes from all terminals via the free CDG VAL shuttle.
Designed by Christophe Pillet, the property has 305 rooms and suites, which have proper soundproofing and comfy beds.
Some rooms even have runway views.
There’s a great wellness offering here. Enjoy the large indoor pool with waterfalls and relaxation jets, along with a sauna, hammam, and relaxation areas. There’s also a 24/7 fitness centre that opens directly onto the pool.
The hotel’s signature restaurant, Le Culinaire Bazaar, led by Chef Jérémie, serves seasonal French dishes alongside signature dishes such as crab tartare, cauliflower risotto, and red-label free-range chicken. Opt to eat indoors or on the terrace. There’s also the lobby bar, which opens up to the outside and serves cocktails and food throughout the day.
If you hold Radisson status (the easiest option is via the AMEX Platinum card), you’ll also have status benefits.
Nightly rates average £166-£247 for a Standard Room.
