The status match challenge of Delta: What is it?

The airline company Delta Air Lines is relaunching these days a “status match” campaign. This somewhat term means that the American company has decided to be generous with its loyalty program in order to increase the number of Skymiles account holders.

The principle: newcomers who normally travel on board competing companies are directly elevated to the most prestigious ranks of the loyalty program.

Of course, this type of practice, which is quite common in the airline and hotel industry, does not take place without conditions. To be eligible, you must already have a status with another airline. Moreover, Delta has done things well since the targeted companies are clearly listed in a table which clearly indicates which status will be recovered according to that acquired elsewhere.

First, confirm your comparable status with the skymiles program

What you have to understand here is that Delta does not allow you to reach Diamond level in any way through this status match campaign. The highest level of loyalty, although a standard level (and not by invitation like the Concierge Key), therefore remains relatively inaccessible.

Delta’s largesse is pretty limitless as it seems the status of any other unlisted company can be considered for the game. Obviously, therefore, any oneworld or Star Alliance company can be targeted and even separate companies such as Emirates or Jet Airways, …

Registration for the Status Match challenge

Nothing could be simpler: just go to this address and enter these details (names, account number, and e-mail address).

At the bottom of the page, you should attach a photo of your loyalty card from a competing company or a screenshot of the account summary page, as well as check the eligibility criteria briefly recalled: Once these few clicks carried out, all that remains is to wait 7 to 14 working days to be matched.

MQM / MQS / MQD required maintaining and extending status during the last 90 days (3 months)

With this campaign, Delta is perpetuating a very American tradition that United and American also practice: the challenge. In fact, the company does not give status away so simply. As soon as the status is matched, the customer who wishes to keep it must complete a mission, a challenge, during the 90 days following this departure date.Anyone eligible to compete for Gold status will, during this period, have to fly 12,500 miles or 15 qualifying flights on partner airlines (SkyTeam and a few others like Alaska, Gol, etc.). The “MQD” parameter (the dollars that need to be spent each year on revenue-based) is therefore excluded.

By being matched Gold on Day-1, it is therefore possible to keep this status beyond the challenge period of 90 days if the mission is fulfilled. If the challenger fails to meet the set goals but exceeds the 6,250 mile or 8 segment threshold, he will continue for the remainder of the year with the Silver level.

While it is possible to be downgraded in this way, it is however not possible to level up: even by covering more than 18,750 miles or 25 qualifying flights, the Gold status challenger will not be able to become Platinum at the same time. after the 90 days. To do this he will have, during the rest of the year, to obey the basic criteria, namely 75,000 miles or 100 flights.

Regardless of when starting the challenge these days, the status (possibly) earned after the three months is effective until January 31 of each year – a fairly short period of 12 months.

This status match campaign is obviously very interesting. Obtaining SkyTeam Elite Plus status with just 15 flights – the same number that only earns a Silver status with Flying Blue, for example – is a great opportunity.

Be careful, however, to carefully study the Skymiles program because although it is very interesting, in particular for the upgrade policy as well as the “Choice Benefits” which are additional gains, it remains quite restrictive on key points such as access to SkyClubs on domestic flights, the accumulation of miles, and their use due to a system that has become quite unreadable in recent years.