In search of an airline standing match? Our information to airline standing matches and challenges in 2024 - The Factors Man

Whereas most loyalty programs don’t provide a approach to prolong elite status past the present yr, a workaround is out there: By matching your expiring elite standing to a competing loyalty program, you may doubtlessly preserve your advantages by deciding on totally different carriers.

Quite a few airline loyalty applications present the chance to match elite advantages from different applications. For example, in case your Delta Air Strains Medallion elite standing will expire subsequent yr, you would possibly have the ability to match it to a competitor’s program. This usually grants you momentary elite standing with the competing program, which might be prolonged by assembly particular flight or income necessities.

Subsequently, if you happen to qualify, you may acquire complimentary elite standing with one other airline. Maintain studying to be taught extra about present airline standing matches and challenges you may snag in 2024.

What’s an airline standing match?

A standing match usually includes getting an equal or decrease standing tier with a brand new airline based mostly in your current standing with a competitor’s program. So, why would airways provide a standing match problem?

If a traveler has proven vital loyalty to 1 explicit airline and program, this conduct might be engaging to a rival airline. The traveler could think about switching loyalty as a result of they’re sad with their current program, or maybe their circumstances have modified, similar to transferring from a metropolis like Houston, the place United Airways is the dominant airline, to Atlanta, the place Delta has a hub.

If you wish to check out one other program however do not fancy ranging from scratch, a standing match or problem might be a good way to resolve this downside. It is value exploring the key elite standing match and problem alternatives out there if you wish to break up with an airline — although there are some caveats to contemplate.

What to find out about getting an airline standing match

There are some necessary methods and rules to recollect when initiating a standing match or problem.

For a standing match, you will need to usually present a photograph of your membership card and a mileage assertion to show your standing. It’s essential to keep away from altering or falsifying your credentials, as this may end up in extreme penalties, together with account suspension.

Then again, a standing problem could or could not require you to have current standing. The airline will specify the variety of elite qualifying miles or {dollars} you will need to earn inside a particular timeframe to realize a specific elite tier. It’s important to completely perceive the necessities and which actions depend towards the problem, as some cobranded credit cards or companion airline tickets could also be excluded. Do not forget that standing matches and challenges are sometimes restricted to as soon as per lifetime, per account, though some carriers have exceptions.

It’s often suggested to finish a match or problem after June to get pleasure from standing for the remainder of the yr and doubtlessly retain it for the next yr. Nevertheless, current airline standing match challenges, just like the one Delta began offering in 2024, will assist you to preserve standing by January 2026.

Moreover, it is value mentioning that airways could not at all times publicize their standing match and problem alternatives. You might have to name or e-mail the airline’s customer support and test web sites like StatusMatcher. Do not forget that your request’s consequence could range relying on the agent processing it.

Associated: Is airline elite status still worth it?

Alaska Airways standing match

Alaska Airways used to supply easy standing matches; nevertheless, the present standing match course of now features a problem element.

Alaska will match elite standing from the next applications:

• Aeromexico Rewards
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• American Airways AAdvantage
• Delta SkyMiles
• Frontier Miles
• HawaiianMiles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Fast Rewards
• United MileagePlus

If you request a standing match, you’ll be granted the corresponding standing degree within the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program for 90 days. To retain this standing past the preliminary interval, you will need to fly a particular variety of miles on flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airways, Horizon Air or SkyWest Airways, relying on the tier you match.

The required flight thresholds are as follows:

• MVP: 5,000 miles
• MVP Gold: 10,000 miles
• MVP Gold 75K: 20,000 miles

Sadly, Alaska’s MVP Gold 100K tier has no standing match alternative.

To submit a request, visit the dedicated status match page and supply a screenshot of your present mileage assertion displaying your title, standing and miles earned this yr or flown within the prior yr to realize elite standing.

If matched to MVP Gold 75K, you will not be eligible for the 50,000 bonus miles related to qualifying for that standing, even if you happen to efficiently attain the 20,000-mile threshold. Nevertheless, if you happen to match to MVP Gold and fly sufficient to maintain that standing, you’ll obtain 4 MVP Gold visitor upgrades. In the meantime, those that full the MVP Gold 75K problem will obtain these upgrades, plus 4 Alaska Lounge day passes and the power to appoint somebody for MVP standing.

In the event you request a standing match by the tip of June and fulfill the necessities, your new standing can be legitimate till the tip of the calendar yr. Then again, if you happen to provoke your standing match on or after July 1 by December and fulfill the necessities, your standing can be legitimate till the tip of the next yr, so making use of for it in July or August of this yr would maximize the size.

Associated: Alaska Airlines MVP elite status: What it is and how to earn it

American Airways standing match

American Airways presents a standing problem program referred to as Instant Status Pass to Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members and United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K elite members. To take part, you may apply on aa.com and be matched to both AAdvantage Platinum Professional or Government Platinum.

This system consists of three phases, every lasting 4 months. Upon registration, you’ll instantly get pleasure from the advantages of the chosen standing tier. To take care of the momentary standing for one more 4 months, that you must earn a prorated variety of Loyalty Factors, which is round one-third of the total requirement for a yr.

The Loyalty Factors required for every tier are as follows:

• AAdvantage Gold: 13,000 Loyalty Factors
• AAdvantage Platinum: 25,000 Loyalty Factors
• AAdvantage Platinum Professional: 42,000 Loyalty Factors
• AAdvantage Government Platinum: 67,000 Loyalty Factors

Throughout every part, you may earn Loyalty Factors by qualifying actions with American, its companions and cobranded bank card spending. All these actions depend towards your standing problem.

The standing you obtain within the first part determines your start line within the subsequent part. Because of this whatever the preliminary tier you registered for, you’ll start the second part with the advantages you unlocked within the earlier part.

Associated: Quick Points: How Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts

Delta Air Strains standing match

Delta SkyMiles is presently providing a standing match, as much as Platinum Medallion, to elite members of assorted airline applications, together with worldwide applications like British Airways Executive Club, Lufthansa Miles & More, Virgin Australia Velocity and main U.S. applications.

After submitting your info and proof of your present standing, you may be matched to the corresponding Medallion tier for 3 months.

With Medallion standing transferring to the Medallion Qualification Greenback-earning system in 2024, extending the standing past the preliminary three months requires incomes the next:

In the event you qualify and full the problem’s extra necessities, your Medallion standing can be prolonged by Jan. 31, 2026.

Associated: Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it

Frontier Airways standing match

Whereas not but out there, you may be part of the waitlist for Frontier Airlines’ 2024 status match. The touchdown web page does reveal some particulars of the brand new match program, together with that:

• You may match from 45 totally different airways, motels and cruise traces.
• A brand new Elite Silver tier will present 12 factors per greenback spent and Zone 2 precedence boarding.

Though additional particulars haven’t but been launched for 2024, Frontier has beforehand charged members for the “administrative prices” of approving a standing match.

Associated: I was offered top-tier airline elite status for $499 — here’s why

Hawaiian Airways standing match

Whereas not publicly marketed, HawaiianMiles has beforehand provided standing matches as much as top-tier Platinum standing on a case-by-case foundation through its online contact form. It would not damage to ask.

To ask for a standing match with Hawaiian Airways, the corporate usually requires two issues:

• Proof of present elite standing
• Documentation of flights accomplished that earned the elite standing, together with flight exercise to at the least certainly one of Hawaiian’s locations

Matches are often good for one calendar yr from the time of improve.

Associated: How to upgrade your seat on Hawaiian Airlines

ITA Airways standing match

Consideration, elite members of SkyTeam and non-SkyTeam companions: ITA Airways’ loyalty program, Volare, is offering a status match. Elite members of common applications, similar to American Airways AAdvantage and British Airways Government Membership, are capable of match their standing to ITA’s Volare program. You may view the total checklist of eligible applications here.

What’s notable with this standing match is that even expired standing (no sooner than January 2023) can acquire ITA Volare elite standing. If you’re authorised, your ITA elite standing can be legitimate by Dec. 31, 2025; plus, elite members will obtain 10,000 Volare standing qualifying factors towards renewing or upgrading standing.

Even if you happen to’re not an ITA Airways frequent flyer, this standing match is a chance to get SkyTeam elite standing.

JetBlue standing match

Whereas JetBlue previously offered a limited-time standing match for disgruntled Delta Medallion members following the widely controversial changes introduced in 2023, that supply has now ended, and JetBlue presently has no publicly out there standing match provide.

Lufthansa standing match

Lufthansa’s Miles&Extra program has launched a standing match provide to elite members of Scandinavian Airways’ EuroBonus program. This match is out there till Sept. 30, shortly after SAS leaves Star Alliance (to which Lufthansa belongs) and joins the SkyTeam alliance.

For any EuroBonus Silver, Gold, Diamond or Pandion members who would like to remain throughout the Star Alliance ecosystem, they’ll apply online for the match to Miles&Extra, offering a duplicate of their current standing membership card in addition to their Miles&Extra quantity, the place their standing can be upgraded till Feb. 28, 2025, as follows:

• EuroBonus Silver members can be matched to Frequent Traveller
• EuroBonus Gold, Diamond and Pandion can be matched to Senator

These matched to Frequent Traveller who full two flight segments on Lufthansa Group or Miles&Extra airways by Nov. 30, 2024, can have their matched standing prolonged by 12 months to Feb. 20, 2026. These matched to Senator standing who full six flight segments can have their standing prolonged by 12 months as effectively.

The checklist of airways with eligible flight segments is beneficiant:

• Air Dolomiti
• Austrian Airways
• Brussels Airways
• Croatia Airways
• Uncover Airways
• Eurowings
• LOT Polish Airways
• Lufthansa
• Lufthansa Metropolis
• Luxair
• Swiss

There is no such thing as a cost for this standing match.

Scandinavian Airways standing match

Scandinavian Airways’ EuroBonus program is providing a standing match alternative for elite members of the next applications:

• Lufthansa Miles&Extra
• Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles
• British Airways Government Membership
• Finnair Plus

These with Star Alliance Silver standing (from Lufthansa or Turkish) can be matched to EuroBonus Silver standing, whereas these with Star Alliance Gold standing (from the identical applications) can be matched to EuroBonus Gold standing.

OneWorld Ruby members from British Airways or Finnair can match to EuroBonus Silver standing, whereas OneWorld Sapphire members from these applications (i.e., British Airways Silver members) can match to EuroBonus Gold standing.

To be eligible for this standing match, you will need to reside in Europe and have been a member of this system you might be matching from for at the least three months. You may full the match on-line here by importing your frequent flyer card or screenshot of your profile, an account assertion displaying loyalty transactions for the previous 90 days and a duplicate of your passport.

As soon as matched, your new elite EuroBonus standing can be legitimate till March 31, 2025, and might be prolonged by 12 months by taking at the least two flights with SAS by March 31, 2025, for EuroBonus Silver members or 5 flights with SAS by March 31, 2025, for EuroBonus Gold members.

Scandinavian Airways is presently a member of Star Alliance, although Air France-KLM is buying it, so it is going to be moving from Star Alliance to SkyTeam on Sept. 1, 2024. This implies your matched standing will turn into SkyTeam elite standing from Sept. 1, 2025. Be aware you could additionally match your EuroBonus standing to Miles&Extra if you happen to want to maintain Star Alliance standing past Sept. 1.

Associated: Small and satisfying: Flying premium economy on Scandinavian Airlines’ new A321LR from Washington to Copenhagen

Southwest Airways standing match

Beforehand, it was tough to find Southwest Airways’ standing match and problem applications as they weren’t broadly marketed. Nevertheless, the airline has now made these applications extra accessible by offering all the terms and conditions on its website.

You should have standing with one other home airline to qualify for a Southwest A-Record standing match. Any standing degree appears to be accepted. To provoke the method, e-mail [email protected] together with your full title, Rapid Rewards account quantity and proof of elite standing.

As soon as your request is processed, you’ll obtain promotional A-Record standing for 90 days. Sometimes, Southwest grants this standing inside 12 enterprise days of submission.

To increase your A-Record standing for an extra 12 months, you will need to e book and full three qualifying round-trip flights (or six one-ways) inside 90 days. These flights have to be paid fares, not award tickets. Present A-Record members with expiring standing will not be eligible for a standing match.

It is necessary to notice that in accordance with the phrases and situations, your flights have to be booked and accomplished throughout the 90 days. Whereas current bookings could not depend, Southwest permits straightforward cancellation and rebooking with out penalties. This implies you may convert current bookings into new ones if the fare has not elevated considerably.

To qualify for the Southwest standing match, you will need to not have obtained promotional A-Record standing from any program, together with standing matches and challenges, throughout the previous 12 months.

Associated: Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it

Spirit Airways standing match

Much like Frontier’s providing, the Spirit Airways standing match is presently unavailable. You may register on Spirit’s website to affix the waitlist or apply as soon as it turns into out there once more.

Traditionally, this is how this system has labored.

These with elite standing on many North American carriers have been eligible for a 90-day standing match to Spirit’s Silver or Gold tier, relying on their current elite standing.

This is a have a look at elite statuses which have been eligible for Spirit’s standing match previously:

Prior to now, you might prolong your standing by fulfilling the next necessities within the 90-day window:

• Free Spirit Silver: Earn 500 standing qualifying factors by flying Spirit or spending on a cobranded bank card.
• Free Spirit Gold: Earn 1,250 SQPs by flying Spirit or spending on a cobranded bank card.

Silver and Gold elite members obtain waived charges for extras like seat choice, plus precedence boarding and same-day standby. You are even eligible for a free checked and carry-on bag on the Gold degree.

We’ll replace this story when (or if) the Spirit Airways standing match returns.

Associated: Everything you should know before flying Spirit Airlines

United Airways standing match

United Airways has relaunched its MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge promotion in 2024; members can register and obtain complimentary standing for 120 days.

This is a have a look at how a number of common airways’ respective statuses would translate to United MileagePlus standing:

In keeping with United’s web site, that is solely a partial checklist. A full checklist is out there on the Premier Status Match Challenge form.

After enrollment, members have 120 days to earn a set variety of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying factors to increase their elite standing. In the event you earn Premier standing on or after July 1, your elite standing is legitimate by January 2026. In the event you earn standing earlier than July, your Premier standing is simply legitimate by January 2025.

Be aware that the flights have to be operated by United or United Categorical — companion flights (together with these on Star Alliance carriers) aren’t eligible. Challenges are restricted to as soon as each 5 years per MileagePlus account.

Associated: United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it

Virgin Atlantic standing match

Virgin Atlantic presents a publicly available status match to members of choose competing applications.

Relying in your current standing tier, you are eligible for an prompt match to Second Tier (Silver) or Prime Tier (Gold). Nevertheless, those that match to Gold should have a future paid flight booked in Higher Class or premium economic system to be eligible. In the meantime, these matching to Silver should have a flight booked in any cabin to be authorised for a match. As soon as authorised, your standing match can be legitimate for 12 months from the account’s improve date.

This is a have a look at what applications and standing tiers are eligible:

As soon as your standing is upgraded, you may get pleasure from your standing for 12 months. This is what you need to earn within the 12 months to retain your standing:

• Silver: 400 tier factors
• Gold: 1,000 tier factors

These with Virgin Atlantic standing profit from flying with the airline and its companions. On Delta flights, Gold members obtain precedence seating, lounge entry on choose flights, precedence baggage and different advantages. Plus, they obtain advantages on SkyTeam airways, together with Air France, KLM, Korean Air and China Japanese Airways.

Sadly, since Virgin Atlantic is now a member of SkyTeam, you may’t use your Delta standing for this match.

Associated: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value

Backside line

Airways provide standing matches and challenges to draw elite clients from their rivals. Nevertheless, as clients, we will additionally profit from these alternatives. Standing matches and challenges present a shortcut to having fun with perks, cost-saving measures and waived charges, particularly if you’re transferring to a hub the place your most well-liked airline would not function (or has a smaller presence).

They can be advantageous for particular journeys, notably worldwide ones. Or, you should utilize them if you happen to’re prepared to interrupt up together with your current airline over unwelcome modifications to its program.

Earlier than making use of for a standing match or problem, it is essential to completely perceive the phrases and situations and guarantee you may meet the necessities and apply at an opportune time. Do not overlook alternatives with overseas carriers that might grant alliance elite standing, providing advantages like lounge entry and elevated baggage capability on home airways.

In case your present elite standing is about to run out, keep in mind to submit your standing match request earlier than it does to keep away from lacking out on the chance.