status transfer
 

I'm a Diamond member on Delta but about to transfer to Sydney. I have already signed up on QANTAS FF, but would like to see if they would be willing to transfer my elite status over. I know some airlines do this regularly to attract top flyers.

Anyone know how to get this done?

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum (and Australia)

Qantas generally do not status match : you need to earn it

If your stay is Aust is not permanent or for many years, you may be far better off to put eligible QF flights to American Airlines.
QF is far from the best freq flyer program.

DL Diamond is too low a status to be eligible for status match on QF. You'll find earning WP to be much tougher than Diamond, so a match would be unfair.

If you are with a big corporate, go through your corporate account manager.

QF don't have a public match or status program.

Thanks for the quick input. A couple of thoughts.

1. I looked into AA's programs. Any thoughts on whether it matters which OneWorld airline I join with? I used to have Gold on BA years ago back when I lived in Europe. I've never had a particularly good experience with AA, hence the reluctance to get too tied up with them (are they better internationally than US domestic where I've found them to be dreadful?).

2. Diamond is Delta's absolute highest level (unless there's some secret even higher level that I'm not aware of) and requires 125k miles to qualify. Nonetheless, it doesn't appear to matter if QF is unwilling to match.

The issue to be aware of is that some fare bases on Qantas are ineligable for earning on AAdvantage. As long as you are going to be travelling on appropriate fares, then AAdvantage would be a better bet than Qantas FF

I would ignore messages such as "too low a status" , but generally QF doesn't status match

Unless you have your heart set on flying QF, you might also like to consider Virgin and the virgin scheme; VA is more likely to offer a status match than QF I would say and VA is at least as good as QF these days imo

If you can keep a current US address maybe stay with DL and credit your VA flights to Delta's frequent flyer program if possible? AA suggestions to credit QF flights to are also worth looking at.

If its a permanent move to Australia then you will need to decide if you want to join QFF or Velocity (or both). In your position I would be reluctant to let your hard earned DL status die without any status match or something.

I agree with this suggestion, unless you're locked into Qantas for some reason, you would be able to credit VA flights on appropriate fare types to Delta and I think VA even give lounge access to certain Delta membership levels but I'm not 100% sure.

Not much help I know, but I think it's worth looking into.

Diamond status with DL gives Delta Sky Club membership and I believe ( looking at lounge locations ) that this may well provide lounge access with VA

Actually DL Diamond can be earned without ever flying on DL :) I am PM/MM and every other year DL gives me Diamond to tempt me to fly them again -- to no avail. DL has had "secret" level higher than the top FF grade for the past 25 years (going back to the infamous FC or Flying Colonel status ... ask any FA on their transpacific flights if you don't know :) :) :) ).

Bottom line is you won't get a match with QF, and DJ doesn't provide any reciprocal benefits on Oz (DJ) flights. Which radically limits the usefulness of any DL status unless you spend a lot of time in USA. QFF Gold is worth getting as it gives lounge access of considerably better quality than the DL lounges.

I wouldn't class QF lounges as better than the DJ ones though, which whilst in AU is probably more relevent given that in USA , AA lounges are hardly anything to write home about

According to the DL site, DL lounge membership shows as providing for access to VA lounges

I think that there is a lot more chance of VA providing a status match to Platinum than there is of QF providing any status match which, if provided, would make VA a much better choice imo

I agree, I've found the food selection at some of the DJ lounges to be much better than some of the QF lounges, though to be fair the QF lounge I frequent the majority of the time is the PER lounge, which isn't the best representation.

I highly doubt DJ would status match DL as they're a partner. But if you get lounge access and other benefits, if it were me I would choose to fly DJ and credit the flights to my DL account.

Perhaps this thread should end and be moved to the DJ forum if DJ is the answer? Personally I have had horrible experiences on all 3 flights that I have had on DJ and they are on my "do not fly this airline ever again" list because of that for the next 5 years (I use the penalty box system). I realize Borghetti has changed DJ quite a bit since then, but an airline has to own its past and pay pennance for its sins.

people are entitled to their choices on never flying virgin should they wish to, but given the OP's situation, it would seem to me that Virgin could be an obvious choice given that he already holds top tier status with Delta vs starting as a base member on Qantas

As a DL diamond, the OP would enjoy many of the status benefits of Velocity Elites when flying DJ / VA.

It's a walk up for that. FWIW, on a reciprocal basis, when Velocity Platinum, I have been treated as a DL Diamond when travelling in the USA (better even as I get DL lounge access on domestic USA itineraries).

Qantas will status match in rare situations - in this case they may consider it rather than lose out to DJ if the OP can show significant upcoming travel.

There is a recent anecdote of a NZ *E being matched to SG. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-n...-matching.html)