Hi! I am a gold elite with NW, and have enjoyed flying with them for some years. Unfortunately, however, once it is no longer possible to earn miles on a VISA card, they will no longer meet my particular needs.

I am sad to say I need to make a change, and the airline that best meets my travel needs at this time is United. What I need to know is how you go about requesting a status match, and what will happen in the process.

I'm assuming I just need to send documentation of my gold status with NW to United with a letter requesting a status match, but then what happens? Do they let Delta know about the match so that they can cancel my status with them? Or would I just have Gold status with both airlines until Feb of 2010?

I'd appreciate any help you might be able to provide. Since I've been happy with NW, I've never done this before!

I highly suggest you can using mile earning cards and go for hotel point credit cards which have lots more options and can get you hotel or airline miles. Plus you can actually use the points!

Check out starwood or hilton.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...er-thread.html

Good luck at UA.

Definitely check out that Status Match Master Thread. That said, the process is very simple. Draft a letter with a scan of your existing card and e-mail it to the UA address in the status match thread. Wait a few days and you'll get an e-mail back saying you've been matched and have 90 days to fly 15K miles on UA metal to keep it. Might I also suggest looking at BMI? You won't get E+ access, but you will get RCC access and requal for gold is only 38K.

Let's move this to MilesBuzz! with a note to the mods there to (please) merge with the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...er-thread.html .

Thanks,
slippahs
nwa forum co-moderator