Status Matching
Jan 9, 2019, 8:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 98
Status Matching
I had never heard of status matching before reading about it in an article today. Apparently, if you reach out to some airlines, they'll match the status you have with another airline? (Though it sounds like this sometimes, though not always, requires you to meet certain conditions.)
Has anyone tried this with their Delta medallion status? Which airlines did they have luck with? Any tips on how to go about this? Who exactly do you contact at the airlines and what conditions, if any, have folks encountered?
Has anyone tried this with their Delta medallion status? Which airlines did they have luck with? Any tips on how to go about this? Who exactly do you contact at the airlines and what conditions, if any, have folks encountered?
Jan 9, 2019, 8:06 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 98
Delta does have a status match!
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...challenge.html
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...challenge.html
Jan 9, 2019, 8:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: SkyMiles 2018 PM, 2019 PM, 2020 PM, 2021 PM, 2022 PM, 2023 PM...
Posts: 314
I looked into matching with United, but it wasn't going to work well with my upcoming travel schedule and/or my feeling about flying with United.
Essentially, you are given status and a period of time to meet certain requirements in order to keep that status for the remainder of the year.
It is usually for a period of 90 days and in order to keep it you have to meet 25% of that status' requirements.
Essentially, you are given status and a period of time to meet certain requirements in order to keep that status for the remainder of the year.
It is usually for a period of 90 days and in order to keep it you have to meet 25% of that status' requirements.
Jan 9, 2019, 8:31 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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There's a master thread and an entire website devoted to this. Enjoy. 
Airline Status Match Master Thread
StatusMatcher | Obtain Elite Travel Status
Airline Status Match Master Thread
StatusMatcher | Obtain Elite Travel Status
Jan 9, 2019, 8:38 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 98
There's a master thread and an entire website devoted to this. Enjoy.
Airline Status Match Master Thread
StatusMatcher Obtain Elite Travel Status
Airline Status Match Master Thread
StatusMatcher Obtain Elite Travel Status
Jan 9, 2019, 11:36 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Sorry for completely mis-reading your post. I can share that AA has a status challenge, but existing status is not required. It's a pretty good deal if you can meet the requirements for AA Platinum (Oneworld Sapphire) because it includes MCE (their C+) at booking time for you and everyone on your itinerary, you pick the seats no upgrade games like with DL. Also a benefit is selecting your seats on BA flights at 7 days before travel (even business class on BA requires seat assignment fees).
Jan 10, 2019, 7:25 am
#8
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Sorry for completely mis-reading your post. I can share that AA has a status challenge, but existing status is not required. It's a pretty good deal if you can meet the requirements for AA Platinum (Oneworld Sapphire) because it includes MCE (their C+) at booking time for you and everyone on your itinerary, you pick the seats no upgrade games like with DL. Also a benefit is selecting your seats on BA flights at 7 days before travel (even business class on BA requires seat assignment fees).
IIRC AA charges a substantial fee to participate in these status challenges and doesn't offer them for EXP.
Jan 10, 2019, 9:25 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Those are true statements. I felt it was worth the $500 fee for Plat, as I timed it right for an 18 month membership and had 6 or so round trips with my wife in MCE, plus I had gone from zero-status to Plat so it was a nice change to be Priority. After that I kept it up for a few years of Gold (which just lapsed as I switched to DL). If I go back to AA I would have my wife execute a plat challenge.
Jan 10, 2019, 9:46 am
#10
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Jan 10, 2019, 9:50 am
#11
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.......and then too many people took advantage of the airlines' generosity and asked for the match with no intention to fly that carrier beyond one trip for which status benefits were desired while others did sequential status matches, never really earning status anywhere but getting free bags or lounge access for international trips, which of course did cost money to the airline.
Jan 10, 2019, 10:24 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,050
The Elite Challenge
I believe that WN and AS are the only major US airlines that don't have a challenge requirement. OP should keep in mind these match/challenges are generally only once in a lifetime or once every X years. It's not something you can do continuously year after year to maintain status on other airlines.
Last edited by xliioper; Jan 10, 2019 at 6:02 pm
Jan 10, 2019, 5:50 pm
#13
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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There may be other versions out there, but the WN A-list matches I've seen recently (and did one last year to stack with the CA Companion Pass offer) were UA/DL style, limited-time match upon approval, but must fly 3 RTs/6 one ways to keep for a year.
Jan 10, 2019, 5:52 pm
#14
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So are you admitting here that you have WN status and in fact acquired it voluntarily? Shocking!
Jan 10, 2019, 6:04 pm
#15
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