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Thanks to Status Match, frequent flyers can now jump ship from one loyalty program to another without having to repeat the entire process!
Back in the day, earning an elite status the traditional way meant spending hundreds of hours flying and thousands of dollars on a single airline. And if you were to join multiple airline programs, you’d have to do it every single time and spend more money!
In this article, we’ll discuss what Status Matches are (and also Status Challenges) and what airline programs are currently offering this benefit!
Read More: Admirals Club VS United Club: Which Is Better?
(Image courtesy of Canva Pro)
What Is A Status Match?
A Status Match is a program where an airline will give you a particular status based on the status that you have with your current program.
Each airline offers a different status match program which may or may not be published publicly on the web. In some airlines, you might need to call or email customer service directly to ask for a status match request.
Proof of status from your current program and your recent activities is usually required to apply for a status match. Take note that you also get to keep your status from your current program even after you qualify.
For example, if you have an AAdvantage Platinum Status, you can request a status match from Delta and get a Delta Medallion Gold Status in return. Now, you have two statuses from both AAdvantage and Delta.
Whatever your reasons is for applying for a status match, its main purpose is to allow frequent flyers to easily transition easily to another loyalty program without having to start from scratch.
Status Match VS Status Challenge
A Status Match instantly grants you status once you qualify, but a Status Challenge will require you to complete challenges first before you’re granted a status.
The challenges can be anything, but it’s mostly flying a certain number of miles or spending a certain amount of money in a specific time period.
There are also cases where airlines offer a status match and a status challenge. Basically, the airline would grant you instant status but then also offer status challenges in exchange for bonus perks like a status extension or a status upgrade.
Take note that requests for status matches or status challenges may get denied. Some possible reasons could be that your current airline status isn’t eligible, or your status was obtained through a promotion.
To avoid getting denied, we’ve rounded up a few status match/challenge guidelines below from different airline loyalty programs.
Read More: How To Get A Hilton Status Match
Air Canada Status Match
Air Canada’s Aeroplan program offers both status matches and status challenges, but they’re usually limited-time promotions, so you’d have to watch out for them.
In 2021, Air Canada ran a status match promotion for existing U.S. airline status holders. To give you an idea, here’s an example of what they offered before. It might change on the next promotion.
AIR CANADA AEROPLAN STATUS | American Airlines AAdvantage | Delta SkyMiles | Alaska MileagePlan | JetBlue TrueBlue | Southwest Rapid Rewards | Hawaiian Miles |
25K | Gold | Silver | MVP | A-List | Gold/Platinum | |
35K | Platinum | Gold | MVP Gold | N/A | A-List Preferred | N/A |
Platinum Pro | Platinum | MVP Gold 75K | N/A | Companion Pass | N/A | |
75K | Executive Platinum | Diamond | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SUPER ELITE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
It also came with an optional status challenge of taking a single-round trip flight in exchange for a status extension.
If you want to stay updated, you can register through the official Air Canada status match website to get notifications on future status match promotions. Alternatively, you can also email them at [email protected].
Alaska Airlines Status Match
You can request a MileagePlan status match from Alaska Air if you have a current elite status with one of the following airline programs below. The status you’ll get will be valid for 90 days starting from the day it was awarded to you.
ALASKA MILEAGEPLAN STATUS | Aeromexico Club Premier | Air Canada Aeroplan | American Airlines AAdvantage | Delta SkyMiles | Frontier Miles | Hawaiian Miles | JetBlue | Southwest Rapid Rewards | United MileagePlus |
MVP | Gold | Altitude 25K (Prestige) & 35K | AAdvantage Gold | Silver Medallion | 20K | Pualani Gold | A-List | Premier Silver | |
MVP Gold | Platinum | Altitude 50K | AAdvantage Platinum | Gold Medallion | 50K | Pualani Platinum | N/A | A-List Preferred | Premier Gold |
MVP Gold 75K | Titanio | Altitude 75K and 100K | AAdvantage Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, ConciergeKey | Platinum Medallion & Diamond Medallion | 100K | N/A | N/A | A-List Preferred & Companion Pass(must hold both) | Platinum, 1K & Global Services |
To extend the validity of your status, you can complete a status challenge by flying a certain number of miles on Alaska Airlines marketed and operated flights. Here are the requirements:
- Fly 5,000 miles to extend your MVP status
- Fly 10,000 miles to extend your MVP Gold status
- Fly 20,000 miles to extend your MVP Gold 75K status.
After you’ve earned the required miles, there are two ways on how your status will extend beyond the first 90 days.
If you requested a status match between January to June and earned the required miles, you’ll keep your status through the end of the calendar year. If you requested a start of your status match between July – December and earned the required miles, you’ll keep your status through the end of next year.
You can request a status match through Alaska’s status match page. Just follow the instructions to proceed.
American Airlines Status Match / Challenge
American Airlines usually offers status challenges instead of a status match. You don’t need to have a current elite status with another airline to be eligible; however, there’s an upfront payment in order to participate in the challenges.
The status challenge requirements have changed multiple times in the past, but as of 2022, these are the requirements:
AADVANTAGE STATUS CHALLENGE | Flying Requirements (EQMs & EQSs) | Revenue Requirements (EQDs) |
AADVANTAGE GOLD | 7,000 EQMs or 8 EQSs | $1,000 |
AADVANTAGE PLATINUM | 12,500 EQMs or 16 EQSs | $2,000 |
However, American Airlines seems to have paused on offering status challenges lately when it transitioned to the new Loyalty Points program early this year. If you still want to double-check, you can call 888-697-5636 or send an email to [email protected].
An alternative way to earn AAdvantage elite status is through the World of Hyatt Program. American Airlines has partnered with World of Hyatt and has been offering status challenges to Hyatt elite members (check your email or call Hyatt customer service).
Delta Status Match
Delta Airlines has a published landing page where you can request a status challenge. All you need to do is to upload proof of your current status from a qualifying airline. You can check the table below if you are qualified:
DELTA SKYMILES MEDALLION STATUS | Air Canada Aeroplan | All Nippon Airways Mileage Club | American Airlines AAdvantage | Asiana Club | British Airways Executive Club | Copa ConnectMiles | Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | JetBlue TrueBlue | Lufthansa Miles&More | Qantas | South African Voyager | Southwest Rapid Rewards | United MileagePlus | Virgin Australia Velocity |
SILVER | MVP | Bronze | Gold | Gold | Bronze | Silver | Crystal | N/A | Frequent Traveler | Silver | Silver | A-List | Premier Silver | Silver |
GOLD | MVP Gold | Platinum | Platinum | Diamond | Silver | Gold | Sapphire | Mosaic | N/A | Gold | Gold | A-List Preferred | Premier Gold | Gold |
PLATINUM | MVP Gold 75K and 100K | Diamond | Exe Platinum, Platinum Pro, Concierge Key | Diamond Plus, Platinum | Gold | Platinum, Presidential Platinum | Premier, Diamond | N/A | Senator, HON Circle Members | Platinum, Platinum One | Platinum, Lifetime Platinum | N/A | Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, Global Services | Platinum |
Once your status request is approved, you’ll immediately be granted a corresponding Delta Medallion Status for 90 days. However, you can extend your status beyond 90 days if you meet the required number of MQMs, MQSs, and MQDs below.
Your status extension will be based on when you applied for the status challenge. If you request a challenge before July 2022 and complete the requirements, your status will be extended for the remainder of 2022 and through January 2023.
If you requested a challenge on or after July 2022 and you complete the requirements, your status will be extended through the entire year of 2023 and through January 31, 2024.
You can apply for a status challenge here on Delta’s status challenge landing page.
United Status Match
United Airlines also offers a combination of a status match and a status challenge. If your current status from another airline program is eligible for a status match, you’ll be granted a MileagePlus status for 90 days.
You better hurry up because United is only offering this for a limited time. Requests received between January 5, 2022, and December 20, 2022, will be the only ones accepted. Check the table below to see if you qualify.
UNITED MILEAGEPLUS | Delta Airlines Medallion | American AAdvantage | Southwest Rapid Rewards | JetBlue TrueBlue | Alaska MVP | British Airways Executive Club | Virgin Atlantic |
Premier Silver | Silver | Gold | A-List | Mosaic | MVP | Bronze | Silver |
Premier Gold | Gold | Platinum | A-List Preferred | N/A | MVP Gold | Silver | Gold |
Premier Platinum | Platinum | Platinum Pro | N/A | N/A | MVP Gold 75K | Gold | N/A |
Additionally, you can extend your status if you meet the following requirements below.
After applying for a status match and completing the PQF and PQP requirements, you can extend your status beyond the first 90 days. The length of the extension will depend on the time you’ve requested your status match.
If you requested a status match and completed the requirements before July 2022, you will keep your status for the remainder of 2022 and through January 2023.
If you requested a status match and completed the requirements on or after July 2022, you will keep your status for the remainder of 2022, all of 2023, and through January 2024.
You can submit a status match request through the United status match landing page, or you can send an email to [email protected].
Southwest Airlines Status Match
Southwest Rapid Rewards also offers a status match and status challenge for flyers, but they don’t have a published chart. You’d have to manually send them a request to know whether you qualify for an A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion status.
You can send a request here using the Southwest status match landing page or email them at [email protected].
Once you’re qualified, you’ll be granted status for 90 days / 3 months with the option of extending it for another 12 months if you complete a status challenge.
As of this writing, they only offer status extensions for the A-List level. You need to complete 3 paid round-trip flights (or 6 one-way flights) booked and flown within the first 90 days after approval.
Get More Perks From Your New Elite Status
Getting an elite status comes with exciting perks and benefits, but if you want to get a full upgraded travel experience, you might want to sign up for the airline’s co-branded cards. Here are some cards that you need to check out:
- Chase Aeroplan World Elite Mastercard
- Chase United Quest Card
- Chase United Explorer Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Bottom line
Airline status matches and challenges are a great way to skip the long and painful process of earning elite status and leverage one status for another.
Most airlines offer them all year round, while some are on a time-limited basis, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled. Also, make sure to time your request properly! Status extensions vary depending on the date on which you requested it.
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