Delta SkyMiles Status Match Discussion

[AFF Editor]

This thread is for discussion about the ongoing Delta SkyMiles Status Match Challenge.

The Delta Status Match Challenge offers a shortcut to elite status on Delta Air Lines. These status benefits extend to Delta’s partner airlines, including all SkyTeam alliance carriers and our very own Virgin Australia!

If you already have elite status with an airline outside of the SkyTeam alliance, such as Qantas, you may be eligible for 3 months of complimentary Delta status. You can then extend this status for up to 19 months by completing a “challenge” during this 3-month period.

Read more here: Delta Status Match Challenge Unlocks SkyTeam, Virgin Australia Benefits

And here's a link to the page on the Delta website about the status challenge: Delta SkyMiles® Status Match Challenge : Delta Air Lines

 

[drsmithy]

Hi,

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on the below.

I'm about to do a trip to (and within) the US, flying VA and DL. Itinerary is BNE-LAX-BOS, PHX-LAX-SYD-BNE with VA in Y+, and BOS-MSP-PHX with DL in F to fill the open jaw (had to do that to work within employer rules for mixing personal and business travel).

I'll get about 440 (or maybe 480 - not sure what the domestic "Y+" connections will count as) SCs out of it, which will be enough to push me into VA Gold (currently VA Red).

However, it's also enough miles (~27,000 I think) to do the Delta challenge and hit their Platinum status. I have QFF LTS, which I'd be using for the initial status match.

Given the bulk of my flying for the next 12 months is likely to be Oz domestic and maybe a Trans-tasman or two - unlikely to be any more trips back to the US - is it better to target the VA Gold, or would Delta Platinum give me the same benefits domestically, with the bonus of advantages if I end up in the US again in the next year (or two - is it a soft landing) ?

If it changes the equation at all, I also have a Gold Delta Skymiles AMEX which I took out as part of booking the flights above for the $150 cashback offer they had (used to live in the States so have a good credit rating there - though I was still surprised it went through ).

I'm not really very familiar with VA or Delta/Skyteam status, as nearly all my flying until now has been with QFF/OW.

 

[Mattg]

I may have misunderstood your question, but I don't think you'd be offered a Platinum status match with Delta if you only have Silver status with Qantas. You'd need to already have Platinum with another airline.

In any case, Delta status is most useful if you ever plan to fly on SkyTeam airlines. If most of your flying is on VA, might as well stick with Velocity. You do get some very good benefits on DL (albeit not domestic lounge access!) if you ever travel to the US again, though.

 

[drsmithy]

I may have misunderstood your question, but I don't think you'd be offered a Platinum status match with Delta if you only have Silver status with Qantas. You'd need to already have Platinum with another airline.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

My impression from the article was that I'd be able to status match my QFF LTS to Delta Silver, then take the "challenge" part with the flying I'm about to do, to credit it all to DL and earn Platinum through that.

Or is the point to match a current status and the "challenge" is to do enough in three months to maintain that ?

 

[Mattg]

Or is the point to match a current status and the "challenge" is to do enough in three months to maintain that ?

Yes that is exactly the point. You can certainly match to Delta Silver, but you won't be offered a challenge to attain any status higher than that.

 

[drsmithy]

Yes that is exactly the point. You can certainly match to Delta Silver, but you won't be offered a challenge to attain any status higher than that.

Ok. I was thinking it was like the old AA status challenge to hit a certain amount of miles flown in a short time period.

Makes the decision easy, then.

 

[Kefci2000]

Hi all

Am flying business class to JFK on China Airlines from SYD via TPE

I no longer have status on any other airline but QF WP.

It looks like this trip will get 28k miles.

Question is which is best Skyteam program to credit? Am posting here as I have requested Delta Status match, mainly for VA lounge access.

It is not clear if CI flights will maintain the Delta status or if I am better if joining another program

Thanks for any advice

 

[Mattg]

Hi all

Am flying business class to JFK on China Airlines from SYD via TPE

I no longer have status on any other airline but QF WP.

It looks like this trip will get 28k miles.

Question is which is best Skyteam program to credit? Am posting here as I have requested Delta Status match, mainly for VA lounge access.

It is not clear if CI flights will maintain the Delta status or if I am better if joining another program

Thanks for any advice

What is your fare class for the China Airlines flights?

 

[Kefci2000]

They will be D class

 

[Mattg]

They will be D class

Might as well credit to DL - you'll earn 100% miles which would be enough to complete the status match challenge.

 

[Kefci2000]

Might as well credit to DL - you'll earn 100% miles which would be enough to complete the status match challenge.

Does DL require a set number of segments to gain status?

 

[Mattg]

Does DL require a set number of segments to gain status?

Do you mean with the status match challenge, or just generally?

 

[Kefci2000]

Do you mean with the status match challenge, or just generally?

I guess both? So I can probably meet the Match with just the CI flights?
I couldn’t meet UA status match on LH flights as they had to be UA

Sorry it was not clear in the T&Cs

 

[Mattg]

I guess both? So I can probably meet the Match with just the CI flights?
I couldn’t meet UA status match on LH flights as they had to be UA

Sorry it was not clear in the T&Cs

There's no requirement to fly on Delta for either the status challenge or generally in order to earn status. MQMs/MQSs can be earned on partner airlines. The UA challenge is different in that only UA flights count.

 

[jase05]

Has anyone done this challenge recently?
I’d love to know if any of the alliance members allow you to enjoy their benefits during the 3 month challenge period.

 

[Kefci2000]

Yep SkyTeam lounge benefit and guest benefit

 

[jase05]

Yep SkyTeam lounge benefit and guest benefit

Thanks.
Just reading the article it stated the benefits were for Delta flights only but there was evidence of other airlines honouring it. I’ve got a couple of domestic and short haul international flights with VN and CI coming up so was hoping for lounge access if possible

 

[Kefci2000]

CI definitely recognised the status, but Elite is not enough to get into CI’s top lounge at TPE

 

[Mattg]

CI definitely recognised the status, but Elite is not enough to get into CI’s top lounge at TPE

Skyteam Elite Plus, even though it’s the highest Skyteam tier, is only equivalent to Gold status. Most airlines have a higher tier, which allows them to offer benefts (such as the TPE top-tier lounge) only to their own frequent flyers. So that sounds about right.

Oneworld is the only alliance with an alliance-wide “platinum” equivalent.

 

[Kefci2000]

Sorry yes I was Elite Plus and correct CI’s limit lounge only for their top flyers