I am currently Platinum elite on Delta and Gold Elite on CO. I will be carrying both of these status levels into next year. I was thinking about asking for the match with CO so I would be Platinum on both. However, if I wait until Jan. or Feb. of 2011, and then request the match will it carry through the rest of that year and the next? Usually when you qualify with normal miles, you get that status level for the rest of the year you qualified and all of the next year. If I stick it out as Gold elite for the rest of the year on CO, could I essentially secure Platinum status with CO for virtually all of 2011 and 2012 if I matched at the beginning of 2011? Could the United merger pose a problem? If so, should I ask for the match immediately?