Originally Posted by GrizShel
Trying to Determine the Best timing for my Status Match Request
I'm currently Worldperks platinum elite, but Delta has been setting off bombs to blow up the value of my relatively new top-tier elite status. However, in order to use up all of my Worldperks miles before they become nearly worthless to me I've booked a bunch of award trips throughout the year (which Delta has now partially blown up also with their announcement that they are taking away my free Platinum award changes and redeposits of miles on March 1, right at the start of my first full status year as a Platinum ).
My question when exactly would likely be the best time to ask for a Status Match?
I understand most other airlines have seen the Carnage over at Delta - NW and are being generous in their status match offers right now. But if I request this now, I'm going to have an extremely difficult time maintaining my status for next year; I just don't have the time to do many paid flights until next year.
Originally Posted by
robbert
I'm debating the same thing, with the changes so late I'm already too committed to NW/DL for the next couple of months with flights booked, a fare credit waiting to be used etc. If I match to CO the 50% will kill me and I am not sure I'll even go for Plat this year on any airline, just booked summer TATL travel for $600 on a special deal, and that was not NW/DL. Maybe I'll forget about loyalty and book whomever is most convenient/cheapest. For domestic I've already switched mostly to WN (many NS from BNA).
The best course of action seems to be to use up the few remaining miles, get at least silver on NW/DL in the process and match to another airline after June 15 and try to get status until early 2011. Hopefully by the end of this year it will be known when CO will join *A, I can live with the combined UA/CO network but not with either one of them. But then, which airline will be the next to announce billions in losses? The benefits are going downhill no matter what.
Back to this topic for me. Since I'm not due to pick up much paid flying to early next year, and since both AA and UA are almost certainly only going to ffer a 90-day challenge period rather than direct status match, I presume my only good option is to wait to the end of this year to request the challenge? (initiating one in the summer or fall does me no good as it would be difficult to get in enough miles during that period for me.)
Drawbacks: AA have to pay $150 for Plat. challenge, no status while flying qualifying flights, correct? (neither applies for UA challenge)
UA usually requires flying more miles in the 90 days than AA.
Any other advantages to doing this on AA versus UA or UA vs AA?
Any chance I would be turned down on either airline (currently NW plat.)?