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Delta has been all over the place with its elite status program for this year.
They first announced onerous new requirements, before saying that they tried getting to that point too fast and partially rolling it back, while still promising higher levels in the future.
Then they announced that you would be able to earn Silver or Gold status just by having Delta credit cards in your sock drawer.
And now they are making their status match challenge far more lucrative.
You can enroll in a status match challenge once every 3 years, with Delta matching the status of non-partner airlines up to Platinum.
In the past, if you enrolled in the challenge between January-June and met the challenge requirements, you kept status until the following January, so someone who enrolled in January or June 2023 and met the challenge requirements, kept the status until 1/31/24.
But with the new status match challenge, you can enroll now and if you meet the challenge, you will keep status until 1/31/26, a full year longer than you would have received previously.
With the new program, you’ll have 3 months with the matched status to earn $1,250 MQDs to keep Silver, $2,500 MQDs to keep Gold, or $3,750 MQDs to keep Platinum. You can’t earn a status higher than what you matched from, but you can keep a lower status if you fall short of the level you matched from.
While in the past you have to fly a certain number of flights and earn MQDs, you can now meet the challenge by earning MQDs on Delta credit cards and by flying.
If you have a Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Delta Reserve Business card, you’ll have to spend $12,500 for Silver, $25,000 for Gold, or $37,500 for Platinum as those cards earn 1 MQD per $10 spent. Spending on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Delta Platinum Business earns 1 MQD per $20 spent.
Of course, those numbers will be lower if you also earn MQDs from flying on paid or award tickets. Basic economy tickets don’t earn MQDs or million miler status.
Unfortunately, the headstart MQDs that you get just for having Delta cards won’t count toward meeting the challenge requirements.
Will you match your status to Delta?
HT: Davidthebest, via FM
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28 Comments On "Delta Improves Their Status Match Challenge"
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What if I already matched to delta status before
“You can enroll in a status match challenge once every 3 years”
Did something change that I missed?
If I spend $37,500 on Delta Platinum card, I keep Platibum status?
If you’re enrolled in a status match challenge.
What benefits do you get when flying on Elal if you have Delta staus?
Do they give you the benefits of the matched status during the match period before you complete the requirements?
In the past, if you enrolled in the challenge between January-June and met the challenge requirements, you kept status until the following January, so someone who enrolled in January or June 2023 and met the challenge requirements, kept the status until 1/31/24.
I believe you meant to write 1/31/25
Nope.
From 1/31/24 till 1/31/26 is two more years..
Post says 1 extra year?
Read it again?
If you status matched in 1H23, you kept status until 1/31/24. If you match in 1H24, you will keep status until 1/31/25. They are extending that to 1/31/26.
How do I get Delta to match my Elal status? I got Top Platinum and would love Delta to match to something similar
Click on the link in the article?
Not sure they’d match now that they’re partners.
I have Gold status on American that I earned 30+ years ago and it never seems to expire
(I guess those older ones are grandfathered in?). The requirements for the status match say that I have to show proof of how I earned my status. Any idea how I would go about doing that?
Will flying El Al count towards the MQD requirement? Thanks
They had a requirement of having flown a delta flight in the last 3 years. It seems they removed that as well.
Did they? I still see it as a requirement on Delta page
If im currently a Delta Platinum Medallion, can I also apply to get Platinum for 2025 by copltetiung the $37,500 spend on the delta reserve card?
Or is this only for status member of other airlines?
The latter.
Will they status match JetBlue mosaic ? And if not how to get it done?
Yes.
Can I status match Spirit Gold for Delta?
Try and let us know.
Will partner cash flights count towards the MQDs?
The last status match I did was 1/17/21. Is 3 years from the match or 3 years from the end of the 3 months (4/17/21)?
I’d assume 1/17, but try and let us know.
Anyone hear back? Applied the day of and have a delta flight coming up.
Same. Applied last week and nothing doing. Already took a delta flight yesterday
How do I know if I met the spending requirement?
(Is there some sort of tracker)