FlyerTalk Forums - Delta not fullfilling Status Match Commitment

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- - Delta not fullfilling Status Match Commitment (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1663703-delta-not-fullfilling-status-match-commitment.html)

Did the OP request the status match/challenge from LH or was he/she approached by DL with the offer?

If this were part of some corporate travel contract, maybe the company has ended its preference for DL and hence the status was downgraded if it was conditional on the corporate contract and the OP's continued employment in a position requiring business travel. <I'm just trying to guess here.>

Quote:

Originally Posted by WheelsFirst (Post 24515271)

Status matching is an interesting concept because it defeats the reward for loyalty, it basically says if you were loyal to one airline, our airline will give you the same benefits. However, it is an effective and necessary business practice as it reduces the lock one airline has on a traveler if they want to switch.

I can't imagine there's a big impact to locally earned elites. Either someone matches and doesn't re-qualify, thereby probably only taking a couple flights which doesn't disrupt much, or they qualify, which means they would have qualified a few months down the road.

I finally gave up on Delta a couple of weeks ago based on many factors that were important to me and part of my calculus. I took the AA status challenge for their platinum and will have it locked up in a couple of weeks. AA wins by offering a status challenge as they are able to lure me away from a competitor based on the fact that if I have an option to switch and a better potential exists to gain access to an enhanced experience by the nature of my AAdvantage level - with this in hand, I am likely to leave the comfort of my Delta DM space. Granted, DM was earning me row 39 on the aisle just about every flight, but there was a hesitation on my part to switch without a new prebaked program alternative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF524 (Post 24523379)

...I took the AA status challenge for their platinum and will have it locked up in a couple of weeks...

I thought AA had discontinued the challenges? When did you start?

Quote:

Originally Posted by steex (Post 24515452)

I think it's because the programs are really misidentified as purely "rewarding loyalty" when it comes to elite status. The benefits are intended to incentivize future spending at least as much as they are designed to reward past loyalty.

There is no loyalty involved at all. The reward you get is the pay back for the promises they made to incentivize your future behavior some time ago.

If you work two weeks and your boss gives you a pay check (hoping it is big enough to get you to come back next week), is he rewarding your loyalty?

I'm sure there are many people here with status on two or more airlines. Are they getting rewarded for their loyalty? It would seem they have none.

Loyalty is a red herring in a company of this size. Your neighborhood butcher, maybe. Delta...they have no idea who you are.

Thanks for asking, Delta never got back to me. Will try the Twitter route

Quote:

Originally Posted by hfnyc (Post 24528298)

Thanks for asking, Delta never got back to me. Will try the Twitter route

An important part of the status match process is learning to face the reality of what it will be like to deal with Va Ave. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmarks (Post 24523579)

I thought AA had discontinued the challenges? When did you start?

I called two weeks ago - paid the fee and committed to flying 10,000 miles by Early June to obtain that level.