Do we have a separate thread for people announcing/discussing switches to OAL? I am going to be moving to DL. I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.

Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)

The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.

I am going to be moving to DL. As a long-time EWR and then IAH-based flyer, I didn't have much choice, but since I have retired and moved back to Canada, it isn't such a lock any more. DL gives me somewhat better connectivity out of YEG, and their partnership with WS really helps things.

I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.

Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)

The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.

My last booked flight on United is on 11/30. I will be status matching to DL and won't be spending a dime on UA in 2020.

This is very interesting.

Is DL trying to get those "low margin elites" fired by UA?

Initially, I thought AA or DL wouldn’t be interested in getting them, but I can see how it makes sense. If these flyers are angry or feel let down by United, even when DL and AA implement their own version of the program (spend rather than distance), the hope is that these UA emigrants will stay put.

Another possibility:

UA miscalculated by raising the bars for elites too high across the board. The arrogance pissed off lots of elites.

Many of them are profitable customers whom DL and AA would be happy to have.

It's much easier to lose a customer than gaining a new one. Not sure Kirby et co. understand this.

Yes, it appears Delta is trying to do some serious poaching of UA Elites.

That's not correct
AA Gold = DL Silver = UA Silver
AA Plat = DL Gold = UA Gold
AA Plat Pro = DL Plat = UA Plat
AA EXP = DL Diamond = UA 1K

Mine is on 12/26. Then I'm done with them.

You are right about AA Gold=UA Silver.

Still, it's telling that DL is giving UA elites preferential treatment by matching UA Silver to DL Gold and UA Gold to DL Platinum.

https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...atch-challenge

I found it fascinating.

I’m sure they understand the customer retention dynamic. It will be interesting to see the reaction of flyers when AA and DL eventually change their programs.

One thing they could do is even if they move to their own PQP system is to put the qualification requirements a little bit lower than UA. Then they can say "At leat we're not as bad as UA!" Or maybe they hope they're last ones to change so that there's no one left to run to.

Of course, there's always the risk that people will just become free agents instead as well instead of staying put...

Thank you Delta, you now have my attention!

AA tiers are off-by-one relative to DL/UA. At AA Gold is 25k, Plat is 50k, etc.