After all the drama surrounding Delta Medallion status at the end of last year, Delta is hoping it can convince other airlines' loyal flyers to switch their allegiance with an enticing new status match offer.
The Atlanta-based airline is bringing back its SkyMiles Medallion Status Match Challenge, offering travelers who hold any level of elite status with another airline – and not just major U.S. carriers – the chance to match into the equivalent tier of Delta Medallion status. You'll get at least three months of Delta status, with a path to extend that status all the way through to early 2026. Â
The status match challenge went live on Wednesday, and travelers can now enroll on Delta's website. As of publication, there's no date for when this latest status match will end.
Delta's latest offer comes long after other airlines tried to poach loyal Delta flyers upset with the airline's recent changes. Alaska, American, and JetBlue all (not so subtly) targeted Delta status holders with lucrative status match offers this past fall.
Want to take advantage of Delta's status match offer? Here's what you need to know.
Related reading: Is Delta Status Even Worth it Anymore?
How the Delta Status Match Works
Travelers with any level of status with another airline will be able to apply online to match into the equivalent tier of Delta status. Not every airline is eligible, but all of the major U.S. carriers are, as well as a few smaller carriers and even several big international airlines.
You can only get complimentary Delta Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion status. Even if you've got the highest tier of status with another airline, there's no option to get Delta's top-tier Diamond status through this promotion.
| Airline Loyalty Program | Delta Silver Status | Delta Gold Status | Delta Platinum Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K and 100K |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Executive Platinum Pro, Concierge Key |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | N/A | Mosaic 1 | Mosaic 2, 3 & 4 |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | A-List | A-List Preferred | N/A |
| United Airlines Mileage Plus | Premier Siler | Premier Gold | Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, Global Services |
Several international carriers like Air Canada, ANA, British Airways, Qantas, and more are also eligible for the Delta status match challenge – check Delta's dedicated website for the full list. But even if your airline isn't on the list, Delta says you can still apply for a status match if you meet the other eligibility criteria.
Beyond holding elite status with another airline, here's what else you'll need to apply:
- You must be a SkyMiles member for at least 30 days to be eligible for this offer, so if you don't have a free SkyMiles account and you're considering applying for a status match this year, you should sign up for one now.
- You must also have flown Delta at least once as a SkyMiles member and within the last three years on a main cabin or above ticket. Sorry, but a Delta basic economy flight doesn't count.
- A valid physical or digital membership card with your name on it proving your elite status with another airline and proof that you earned that elite status, be it a statement or screenshots of your app or computer screen.
- That means you can't use airline status you previously matched to in order to match back to Delta. Sorry!
- You're also ineligible if you've previously matched to Delta status within the last three yearsÂ
To extend your Delta status beyond the three-month mark, you'll need to earn a certain number of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) – the all-important metric Delta now uses to track spending towards elite status. But those requirements are far lower than what it takes to earn Delta status normally:
Normally, you'd have to earn 15,000 MQDs throughout the year to get Delta Platinum Medallion Status through 2025. With this status match promotion, that drops to just 3,750 MQDs … though you've only got three months to do so.
You can earn those MQDs in any of the following ways – or through a combination of all three:
- Booking Delta flights or flights on a partner airline through Delta (excluding basic economy tickets)
- Spending on your eligible co-branded Delta Amex card
- Earn 1 MQD for every $20 you spend on your *delta skymiles platinum card*
- Earn 1 MQD for every $10 you spend on your *delta reserve card*
- Delta Vacations
From the day you're approved for your Delta status match, you'll have three months to hit those MQD thresholds to extend your status. But if you meet them, Delta says you'll get to keep your Medallion Status through Jan. 1, 2026.Â
There's no deadline to apply for this status match at the moment, but Delta says you can only take advantage of a status match offer once every three years.
Bottom Line
Delta is bringing back a status match in 2024, offering travelers who hold any level of elite status with many U.S. or even international airlines to match into the equivalent tier of Delta Medallion Status. You'll get three months of complimentary status, with a way to extend that status through early 2026.
It's a clever way for Delta to convince flyers to give them a shot, hoping a few months or more than a year of benefits is enough to convince travelers to switch their allegiance.
Lead photo courtesy of Tomás Del Coro via Flickr