Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
IMO other things being equal one either wants to do a status challenge starting in July so that the status lasts as long as possible or you want to start in January so that the status challenge MQMs you fly also count for the year's earnings and help you to earn status for the following year.
That was my exact calculus. I waited until August for my plat challenge, so that I would be guaranteed status through all of 2014, plus it allowed my to requalify for my UA status, in the meantime, so that I would have a fallback should my flirtation with DL not pan out.