Guide To Delta Air Lines Status Match & Challenge

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In order to lure frequent flyers who are loyal to competing airlines but are considering a switch, airlines often offer status challenge or status match programs. Status match challenge opportunities are offered by most major airlines in the United States. I wanted to check out the program offered by Delta.

Delta SkyMiles has a program. You can have your status matched for a period of three months and then your status can be extended based on activity during that trial period. This program is only available for Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, which is not available for Diamond or Delta 360 status.

What status will Delta match?

Delta SkyMiles has an open-ended status match challenge program that is open to all Delta SkyMiles members. Status from the following programs will be matched by Delta Skymiles.

• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Alaska Mileage Plan
• All Nippon Airways Mileage Club
• American AAdvantage
• Asiana Club
• British Airways Executive Club
• Copa ConnectMiles
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Lufthansa Miles & More
• South African Airways Voyager
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• United MileagePlus

You can still participate in the challenge if you have status with other airlines that aren't on the list. Most elite tiers map over as you would expect, with lowest tier status matching to silver, mid tier status matching to gold, and higher tier status matching to Platinum. Here you can find the complete breakdown.

Your Delta SkyMiles status will be valid for three months after you enroll in the challenge.

How do you maintain Delta status?

You have to earn the following over the course of the trial period if you want to keep the status past three months.

• Silver: 6,250 MQM or 8 MQS AND 750 MQD or MQD waiver
• Gold: 12,500 MQM or 15 MQS AND 2,000 MQD or MQD waiver
• Platinum: 18,750 MQM or 25 MQS AND 3,000 MQD or MQD waiver

It's for context.

• MQM stands for “Medallion Qualifying Miles,” and the amount you earn depends on the distance and fare class you fly
• MQS stands for “Medallion Qualifying Segments,” referring to the number of segments flown
• MQD stands for “Medallion Qualifying Dollars,” referring to the amount of eligible spending on flights
• Only MQMs earned for travel on Delta and partner airlines qualifies toward this requirement, so MQMs earned through credit card spending don’t qualify
• The MQD waiver applies if you make $25,000 or more in eligible purchases during the calendar year by the end of your three month trial with eligible co-branded Delta Amex cards

There is an interesting quirk here. The Delta status match challenge allows you to keep the same or lower status tier. It's in other words.

• If you start a Delta Platinum status challenge but only complete the challenge requirement for Silver status, you’d receive Silver status for a longer period
• The opposite isn’t true, which is to say that if you start a Delta Silver status challenge and complete the challenge requirements for Platinum status, you’d still only receive Silver status

How long is matched Delta status valid for?

The amount of time you get to enjoy your status depends on when the challenge starts.

• If you start a status challenge on June 30 or earlier, then status would be valid for the remainder of the year, and through January of the following year
• If you start a status challenge on July 1 or later, then status would be valid for the remainder of the year, the entire following year, and through January of the year after that

If you start a Delta status challenge on July 1 or later, your status will be valid for a long time. Status challenges are valid for 19 months if you start them in July.

How do you request a Delta status challenge?

At this link, you can request a Delta status match challenge. There are a few things to keep in mind.

• Your status challenge is for a period of three months, though it doesn’t have to line up with calendar months, so you can start it at any time
• The status challenge starts within 24 hours of receiving confirmation of being approved
• Once you successfully complete a status challenge, your account will be upgraded with the extended status within a period of five days
• Members who are matched to Platinum status will not be eligible for Choice Benefits until the flight requirement to maintain Platinum status is met
• You won’t be issued a physical elite card until after you complete the challenge
• Status challenges aren’t “once in a lifetime,” but rather you’re not eligible if you’ve otherwise requested a status challenge in the past three years

What are the benefits of Delta elite status?

What perks are offered by Delta Skymiles?

There are a lot of benefits of Silver Medallion status.

• Complimentary upgrades in most domestic markets
• Complimentary Comfort+ seating at time of check-in
• Priority check-in and boarding
• One complimentary checked bag
• A 40% mileage bonus (7x miles per dollar spent)

There are a number of popular benefits of Gold Medallion status.

• Complimentary upgrades in most domestic markets
• Complimentary Comfort+ seating three days before departure
• Priority check-in, boarding, and security
• Two complimentary checked bags
• A 60% mileage bonus (8x miles per dollar spent)
• SkyTeam Elite Plus status

There are a lot of benefits of Platinum Medallion status.

• Complimentary upgrades in most domestic markets
• Complimentary Comfort+ seating at time of booking
• Priority check-in, boarding, and security
• Three complimentary checked bags
• An 80% mileage bonus (9x miles per dollar spent)
• SkyTeam Elite Plus status

The most valuable benefit is the upgrade. The higher your status, the more likely you are to clear. Don't expect to see a lot of upgrades when you become a Silver Medallion member.

It might be easier to requalify for Delta status than you think. American Express and Delta have co- brand credit cards that can help you earn status. In the future you could use credit cards to help you maintain your status if you use a status challenge.

Credit card spending is one way to earn Delta status.

Delta Platinum Amex MQMs for spending

The Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card can be used for ongoing spending.

• Earn 10,000 bonus MQMs after spending $25,000
• Earn an additional 10,000 bonus MQMs after spending $50,000

You would get 20,000 bonus MQMs if you spent $50,000 on either card.

Delta Reserve Amex MQMs for spending

The Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card can be used for ongoing spending.

• Earn 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $30,000
• Earn an additional 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $60,000
• Earn an additional 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $90,000
• Earn an additional 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $120,000

You would get 60,000 bonus MQMs if you spent $120,000 on these cards.

Is a Delta status challenge worth it?

Delta has a program where you can earn three entry level tiers, receive status for three months, and then extend that status with activity.

Delta has a feature that allows you to request a status match challenge once a year. The status would be valid through January 2025. You could ask for another challenge in the second half of the century.

Delta's status challenge is one of the more readily available in that sense. Taking part in a challenge once doesn't mean you can't do it again in the future It's cool for someone who flies Delta occasionally.

Delta SkyMiles has a challenge program. You can have your status matched for three months and then have your status renewed with activity. Up to the Platinum tier is where this can be found.

If you want to maximize the amount of time you get status, I would recommend requesting a status match challenge in July or later. Every three years you request a status challenge.

It is easy to earn Delta status with credit card spending, so it will not be a problem for many people.

Have you participated in a Delta status challenge? What were your experiences like?