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Best Western is keeping alive its long-running status match program. Travelers who have elite status with another brand can match their status to Best Western. This promotion was supposed to end on January 31, 2022. But, it seems that it's been indefinitely extended.
Unlike many of its competitors who offer a status challenge where you have to meet specific requirements to keep your status, Best Western offers a no-catch match with no requirements to hold on to your status.
How to Complete the Best Western Elite Status Match
Best Western has made the process very simple with just a few steps to follow:
- Download and complete the Best Western Rewards Status Match form
- Provide a copy of your current hotel statement or elite membership card.
- Send the completed form and proof by email, fax, or mail to the address listed.
Although it is not mentioned on the form, you can also status-match by phone. A simple phone call will save you the hassle of filling out the form, and a quick call and email should result in an easy and efficient status match.
One thing to note is that Best Western states in its T&Cs that the status awarded depends on your stay history with the previous hotel chain. So, if you don’t have that many recent stays on your statement, you wish to only send a copy of your elite status membership card.
Other Options For Hotel Elite Status
Getting hotel elite status for free is relatively straightforward. Multiple credit cards on the market come with hotel elite status as a benefit, and you can use this to status match to Best Western.
Holders of the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card receive complimentary Platinum Elite status with IHG, which can then be leveraged for elite status with Best Western. Alternatively, cardmembers of The Platinum Card® from American Express receive Gold elite status with both Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy — which can also be used for a free status match.
This list is by no means comprehensive. There are many other options to achieve free or nearly free hotel elite status, which you can then match to Best Western. You can check out our post about getting hotel elite status for free (or nearly free) for an in-depth look at the topic.
Final Thoughts
Arguably this is as simple as it gets to earn elite status. It should take no more than 10 minutes of your time, and you are done. Jumping on this opportunity makes perfect sense whether you plan to stay at one of Best Westerns’ properties or if you are a regular user of their hotels who does not quite use them enough to gain top elite status.
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It’s interesting that they don’t even ask for proof. Simplified process and can serve as a springboard for other loyalty programs.
Yes, I can also attest to the fact that a simple, quick phone call was all it took. There was no request to email documentation. Thanks, AW!
Wonder what are the benefits of BW status?
I truly wonder why the major hotel chains (Hilton, etc.) continue to accept this Mickey Mouse status as a competitor worth matching.
Good for travel hacking though…
Best Western has become rather active with its promotions lately because it sees the travel demands will return really soon?
I’ve had best western diamond status for many years. I only stay with them several nights each year. I’m not sure how many nights one has to stay each year to maintain their diamond status?
Requested the status match a couple of times in the past. Very easy, quick and its free!
When did the previous status match promotions take place?
Pro-tip: Use Amex Plat to get Hhonors gold, status match to BW diamond, stay 1 night at a BW hotel, use BW diamond and stay receipt to status match back to Hhonors diamond.
That’s like “Da Vinci Code” kind of knowledge. It is truly amazing LOL.
Does anyone know if BW status match is only good until the expiration date shown on the other program’s loyalty ID card? If that be the case, will it be better to just provide BW a hotel stay invoice showing your loyalty number in the other program?
Thanks.
I’m not quite sure about this but if you have a card like the Chase IHG mentioned in the article, you would maintain your status as long as you still have that card. If, like me, you’re saving up for an extended stay in Bora Bora, this offer will keep you in BW’s good graces for quite a while.
When BW offered a status match a few years ago, I jumped. I’ve not stayed at many BW since then, but they never rescinded the status, and I’ve used it to match to other programs.
Same for me 🙂
I noticed on their website it states “Activity required per calendar year to achieve or maintain status.” Have you stayed in a BW on a yearly basis, earn points another way or transfer in points to maintain it? Thanks!
Some years, I’ve stayed once or twice, some years not at all.
I’ll ask later and then maybe use it to ask a status to another hotel chain.
Used the status match and am now Best Western Diamond!