Airlines are always running status match challenges as a way to poach frequent travelers from the competition. If you currently have elite status with another airline and are thinking about giving your loyalty to Delta, there's no better time than right now.
That's because by enrolling on or after July 1, 2019, in the Delta status match program and completing the requirements, your Delta Medallion Status will be extended all the way through January 31, 2021. That's right: You could earn Delta Medallion status for nearly 19 months.
If you did a status challenge before July 1, the status would have only been valid through January 2020. Doing it now can get you status for more than a year and a half.
Who is Eligible for this Delta Status Match Challenge?
You are eligible to participate in the Delta status match challenge if you meet ALL of the following requirements:
- You have not received a Delta status match or complimentary Medallion Status in the past three years unless the complimentary Medallion Status was through your Delta Million Miler Status
- You currently have elite status with a qualifying airline that was earned through that airline’s published requirements (complimentary status or status earned through a promotion does not qualify)
- You are able to present both a valid, current elite credential and a statement showing your earned elite status
If you meet the criteria listed above and want to submit your request to be enrolled in the Delta status match challenge, follow this link.
Complimentary Delta Status for 3 Months
Once your request from the step above is approved, you will be automatically enrolled in the Delta status match challenge and matched to Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion Status based on your current elite status with another airline. Your complimentary Status Match will last for three months beginning on the date your request is approved.
To extend your Delta status beyond the three-month grace period, you will need to meet the following Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) during your complimentary three-month trial.
Thrifty Tip #1: To learn more about how MQMs and MQSs work, see our guide to understanding them.
Which Airline Status Can be Matched to Delta Medallion Status?
Status with most of the major North American airlines and a handful of other international carriers make the cut.
For a full list of the airline status that can be status matched to Delta Medallion Status, see below. As you can see from the data, even if you have top-tier status with another airline, it will only match to Delta Platinum Medallion status. Delta will not status match to their top-tier Diamond Medallion status. For more information, see Delta's list of qualifying airlines.
Our Analysis
If you have been thinking about matching your current airline status to Delta, now is the time to do it. Assuming you meet the requirements and received the complimentary three months of status in July 2018, you could retain status for 19 months (through January of 2021) by meeting the requirements laid out above. That is a heck of a deal.
Delta SkyMiles get a bad rap, and there's no denying it can be frustrating and challenging. But there's still plenty of value there. And compared to the other U.S. airlines, it's safe to say Delta offers the best experience, with better service and on-time performance.
That alone makes this status match worth considering if you're eligible.
Thrifty Tip #2: Want to learn more about the SkyMiles program? See our guide to Understanding Delta SkyMiles and How to Make Them Work for You.
Bottom Line
To learn more about this Delta status match, visit their website. You can also read the frequently asked questions and take a deeper dive into the terms and conditions. If you meet the criteria listed above and want to submit your request to be enrolled in the Delta status match challenge, follow this link.
Lead Photo (CC BY 2.0): Tomás Del Coro