Delta SkyMiles Status Match Discussion

[Danger]

I was accepted into the challenge using my QF Platinum credentials. The app (and website) shows me as Platinum Medallion but it also shows a progress bar to Silver.

I attempted to use the SkyTeam Elite Plus credentials on Middle East Airlines this week but the system did not show me as Elite (as has been highlighted). A supervisor overrode the computer when I showed them my Delta account on the Delta website and I got the extra baggage and lounge access.

It seems a bit silly not to extend the full range of benefits over the three month challenge period.

 

[Silvia]

It will show a progress bar to silver but I believe that if you meet the requirement they will forego silver.

i had a similar issue when flying Aeromexico but showing them status worked as they manually entered details.

The catch is that sky team is not as straightforward as one world. They do leave a lot to be desired. I could not get lounge access in Mexico City for domestic flights apparently due to agreement between AM and DL even though they are both sky team partners

 

[jase05]

It will show a progress bar to silver but I believe that if you meet the requirement they will forego silver.

i had a similar issue when flying Aeromexico but showing them status worked as they manually entered details.

The catch is that sky team is not as straightforward as one world. They do leave a lot to be desired. I could not get lounge access in Mexico City for domestic flights apparently due to agreement between AM and DL even though they are both sky team partners

SkyTeam only offers lounge access for International flights and it’s up to the individual airlines to work out their own complicated arrangements.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I've been keeping a keen eye on Delta's status match website over the past couple of weeks, as I'll be flying from Toronto to Glasgow late next month on a severely discounted KLM business class ticket which would easily earn me the MQMs per the status match promotion. For those who aren't aware, Delta will match status with a number of US airlines (and some international ones) provided you fly the requisite number of MQMs (essentially miles flown with Delta with a bonus for flying in higher tier fares like BusinessFirst or Premium Economy) with Delta or (I think) one of their partners within a three month period after enrolment.

So far the promotion was set to expire at the end of June, with all status matches providing you with Delta status through January 2023. Obviously such a match wouldn't be appealing to me given it's only a couple of months and I'll largely be in Australia during that time. However, over the past day or so Delta has updated the status match website to indicate that indeed the promotion will continue through July with anyone signing up on or after July 1, 2022 receiving Delta Medallion status through January 2024 provided they meet the published MQM requirements:


One thing that isn't clear from the website is whether flights taken with SkyTeam partners like KLM will count towards the match, per the FAQ:

What flights can I earn MQMs, MQSs or MQDs on for this challenge?
MQMs, MQSs and MQDs earned on Delta- and Delta Connection-operated flights in Main Cabin or above will count towards this challenge. MQMs, MQSs and MQDs may also be earned on partner airline flights that are eligible to earn MQMs, MQSs and MQDs. Visit Airline Partners to learn more about what flights qualify

The first sentence seems to imply that only DL flown flights will count but the second sentence seems to suggest that flying with a partner like KLM will be fine.

For those curious I'm flying KLM on a $1900 CAD return air-fare (long haul segments YYZ <> AMS ticketed in Z class whilst AMS <> GLA ticketed in J class which earns 12,987 MQMs total). I'm matching from my United Premier Gold which matches to Medallion Gold. As I have an Australian address on file, I qualify for the MQD waiver, meaning it's purely a milage flown play to earn status here (and after the match)

Unsure if this is of benefit to anyone on the forum, as I reckon most folks would be flying OneWorld or Star Alliance, but thought I'd share.

Cheers,

RooFlyer88

 

[Jay M]

Earlier this year I tried to status match against Qantas - delta bypassed the fact my entire digital card said WP and read the tiny lifetime silver bit at the bottom. Matched me to their lowest tier

Asked them to correct, they said no can do, and have now avoided flying with them entirely. UA benefited, and have probably liked me custom as a result. Such a simple thing.

 

[huwcar]

I requested a match with Velocity and it was a hard "no". Don't bother.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd report back on the status match.

I requested my status match earlier this month on Canada Day (July 1) and received approval for the match from United Premier Gold to Delta Medallion Gold status within about 3 calendar days. Provided I can hit the 12,500 MQMs (which I should be able to do with the KL J flights I am taking this month) I'll have Gold Medallion through January 2024.

Thus far I've taken the first segment of my KLM trip (YYZ > AMS via GLA) yesterday although the miles and MQMs haven't posted yet. Per Delta's website it can take up to a week for this to post so we'll see what happens there.

-RooFlyer88

 

[jase05]

QF and VA Silver, Golds and Plats can now apply for the status match.
Silver will match to Silver Medallion,Gold to Gold Medallion and Platinum to Platinum medallion.
Interestingly both Gold and Platinum are SkyTeam Elite Plus so even if you can’t complete your challenge to Platinum you will get a soft landing to Gold and therefore keep your SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
Looks like partner airlines can be used for the status match too

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I've accidentally found myself with Delta silver status year after year given some trips I regularly have to take to SkyTeam-only places, so I recently went ahead and status matched my Star Alliance status and flew Delta's Premium Select (premium economy) product from SYD - LAX and return.

Good news: match worked as stated with no hassle and I find Delta's domestic flights to be solid. Their SLC-based crews are especially pleasant and the new lounge at LAX is top-shelf (though until that terminal is linked to the international terminal, the hassle of transferring between them really sours the int'l departure experience despite the good lounge).

Bad news: Delta's premium economy product. Colour me underwhelmed. I'd read some pretty awesome things about it in the past, but the Covid cuts were omnipresent. A far cry from competitors on the route... even United, my go-to airline to pick on.

Fun to have the status, but can't imagine myself bothering to use it. Delta's premium cabins are obscenely overpriced, and a good AMEX card will get you into their lounge if you do fly them domestically in the States.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Further update: I've now completed my trip to GLA on KL from YYZ, and now have my feet firmly placed in SYD. Having checked my Delta account I see the whole trip has now posted to my SkyMiles account correctly. In total I earned 21,000 Delta miles and some 13,196 MQM off the trip (this was from a $1900 CAD discount J ticket on KL). The MQMs were expected but was pleasantly surprised by the RDM earned on the trip. As it turns out I received a 60% Medallion bonus on base miles flown and that's on top of the 50% class of service bonus flying KL Z from YYZ > AMS and 100% class of service bonus flying KL J from AMS > GLA.

Thus far I haven't received an email from Delta confirming my status is extended through 2024, but per the T&Cs it does mention that it may take 5 business days to receive said email. Given the miles posted on Saturday, I'll give them till the end of the week.

-RooFlyer88

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Final update: Having grown impatient of my Delta status not extending through 2024 (which was supposed to be completed by Saturday morning our time), I reached out to Delta via iMessage to inquire why I haven't had my status yet. The agent was apologetic and informed me that he sent in the request to the relevant department and I should receive a response in the coming days. Checking the Delta app on Sunday, lo and behold my status was extended:



So was it worth it? We'll see in the coming months as I've got a couple of flights booked with Delta (WestJet) and other SkyTeam partners. Certainly the buy-in wasn't particularly expensive it only cost me a single $1950 CAD flight on KLM J from YYZ to GLA to hit the requirements, and I reckon I could've gotten there for even less if I was willing to take more SkyTeam flights. Equally important, it seems that this status match doesn't care if you fly Delta or not. So long as it's a SkyTeam partner that earns MQM that's all that matters. So a flight over to continental Europe in economy would likely let you hit the requirements for Medallion Platinum given the distances involved (i.e. Sydney to Paris via Seoul nabs you 10,725 miles flown one-way).

-RooFlyer88

 

[christopherc]

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

Hi, I've just seen for the challenge 2022 that Delta is offering benefits of tier only on his company...
Any guys experienced it now ?

 

[Mattg]

Hi, I've just seen for the challenge 2022 that Delta is offering benefits of tier only on his company...
Any guys experienced it now ?

I believe the terms & conditions may state that benefits are only received on Delta during the trial period, but in practice most people have reported that they also received SkyTeam elite benefits on other partner airlines.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Hi, I've just seen for the challenge 2022 that Delta is offering benefits of tier only on his company...
Any guys experienced it now ?

If I interpret your question correctly you are suggesting that during the 3 month trial period you would only see these benefits whilst flying Delta. As someone who has completed the challenge, I can tell you that this is not the case. Instantly upon approval of the match you will be given Delta Medallion status for whatever you matched into. For instance, I matched my United Premier Gold status to Delta's Gold Medallion status and in the email I received from Delta confirming the match it said this:



As it clearly states in the email you have Sky Priority (SkyTeam's suite of services offered to elites which covers you when you fly Delta, KLM, Air France, Korean and other fine SkyTeam airlines).So once approved you should be able to enjoy your elite benefits on Delta and SkyTeam member airlines during the 3 month trial period.

You then have 3 months to earn the threshold they set aside for gaining Medallion status. In my case this was 12,750 MQMs. MQDs do not apply since I'm not a US resident. To earn those 12,750 MQMs I flew business class on SkyTeam partner KLM from Toronto, Canada to Glasgow, Scotland which earned anywhere from 150% MQM for the long haul portions to 200% MQM for the short haul portion. What is key though is I earned that extension through 2024 without setting foot on a Delta Airlines plane. I flew their partners and got the status match extended.

-RooFlyer88

 

[adampenrith]

So currently Silver with Velocity, have a NZ trip in the works, Brisbane to Queenstown would bring me to Gold Velocity. Looking at China Airlines business from Auckland to Brisbane. Just wondering what to credit to? Currently have points expiring on Flying Blue - they go in December with no option of keeping them, maybe join up with Delta and go for a status match. Credit the China airlines flights to Delta -
what do the experts think

 

[kangarooflyer88]

So currently Silver with Velocity, have a NZ trip in the works, Brisbane to Queenstown would bring me to Gold Velocity. Looking at China Airlines business from Auckland to Brisbane. Just wondering what to credit to? Currently have points expiring on Flying Blue - they go in December with no option of keeping them, maybe join up with Delta and go for a status match. Credit the China airlines flights to Delta -
what do the experts think

Supposing you reach Gold with Virgin Australia, you could theoretically do a status match with Delta for Medallion Gold. One thing to keep in mind though is timing since you need to have proof of your Gold status to send to Delta and it generally takes Delta a couple of days to review the request and accept the status match challenge. In any event, per the Delta status match website you'll earn Gold after racking up 12,500 MQMs with Delta and/or partner airlines like China Air (Silver can be had for half the amount i.e. 6,250 MQM). The status would be valid through January 2024.

Since China Air isn't a core Delta partner you won't earn the maximum amount of MQM flying business. In particular per Delta's site on a J,C or D business fare you'll earn 100% distance flown for MQM. The route AKL-TPE-BNE would be a distance of 9,699 which would mean that you would hit Delta Silver Medallion no problem crediting those flights to Delta under a status match. One thing to keep in mind with the status match is you've got 90 days to earn those MQMs meaning if you manage to find another flight with a Delta partner you may be able to hit Gold. In my books, Gold is really the goldilocks status to hold. It gives you priority access to everything, lounge access, better seating on Delta and all partners, etc.

In terms of crediting to Flying Blue, your Auckland to Taipei trip would earn 36 status credits and 30 status credits for Taipei to Brisbane. The lowest status level is Silver and that requires 100 status credits so clearly you wouldn't have enough to earn any status with Air France/KLM's program.

If I were you, I would probably go for the status match with Delta. Keep in mind that timing is crucial here. If you have enough time between earning Gold status with Virgin, and applying for the Gold status match with Delta do that. Otherwise, I'd still try and do the Silver status match with Delta with your current Virgin status. Sure it won't be as fancy as Gold medallion but you'll still get some benefits from it.

-RooFlyer88

 

[adampenrith]

Thanks for your prompt response.
As far as timing goes, there will be 16 days between earning Velocity Gold and flying China Airlines, so that is doable. will just have to work out the rest.

On a different note, who else apart from Delta is a good Skyteam membership to hold in Australia, we used to be Garuda but after Covid and waiting years for a refund we have basically discounted Garuda, and now after a move to Bargara, where Brisbane will be our main departure point, considering our options.

 

[jase05]

Supposing you reach Gold with Virgin Australia, you could theoretically do a status match with Delta for Medallion Gold. One thing to keep in mind though is timing since you need to have proof of your Gold status to send to Delta and it generally takes Delta a couple of days to review the request and accept the status match challenge. In any event, per the Delta status match website you'll earn Gold after racking up 12,500 MQMs with Delta and/or partner airlines like China Air (Silver can be had for half the amount i.e. 6,250 MQM). The status would be valid through January 2024.

Since China Air isn't a core Delta partner you won't earn the maximum amount of MQM flying business. In particular per Delta's site on a J,C or D business fare you'll earn 100% distance flown for MQM. The route AKL-TPE-BNE would be a distance of 9,699 which would mean that you would hit Delta Silver Medallion no problem crediting those flights to Delta under a status match. One thing to keep in mind with the status match is you've got 90 days to earn those MQMs meaning if you manage to find another flight with a Delta partner you may be able to hit Gold. In my books, Gold is really the goldilocks status to hold. It gives you priority access to everything, lounge access, better seating on Delta and all partners, etc.

In terms of crediting to Flying Blue, your Auckland to Taipei trip would earn 36 status credits and 30 status credits for Taipei to Brisbane. The lowest status level is Silver and that requires 100 status credits so clearly you wouldn't have enough to earn any status with Air France/KLM's program.

If I were you, I would probably go for the status match with Delta. Keep in mind that timing is crucial here. If you have enough time between earning Gold status with Virgin, and applying for the Gold status match with Delta do that. Otherwise, I'd still try and do the Silver status match with Delta with your current Virgin status. Sure it won't be as fancy as Gold medallion but you'll still get some benefits from it.

-RooFlyer88

Why would the OP be travelling to TPE though?
CI run BNE-AKL direct.
Good product IMO and with good timings

 

[adampenrith]

Yes I was thinking just AKL - BNE - would prefer Virgin Australia but they still have very limited trans Tasman routes

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Thanks for your prompt response.
As far as timing goes, there will be 16 days between earning Velocity Gold and flying China Airlines, so that is doable. will just have to work out the rest.

On a different note, who else apart from Delta is a good Skyteam membership to hold in Australia, we used to be Garuda but after Covid and waiting years for a refund we have basically discounted Garuda, and now after a move to Bargara, where Brisbane will be our main departure point, considering our options.

Having spent quite some time looking at the various SkyTeam programs I think Delta is the best at present. Firstly, you can earn status with them without setting foot on their airplanes. I status matched for Delta Gold and flew entirely KLM flights to earn those 12,500 MQMs. Second they offer quite generous bonus MQM offers on some of their core partners like KLM and Air France, Korean and LATAM. That last airline is of particular interest to us given LATAM's fifth freedom route between Sydney and Auckland. Third, in terms of attaining lifetime status (which is a long term goal I think we should all have) they are hands down the best in that regard. 2,000,000 MQMs earned in a lifetime gets you lifetime Delta Medallion Gold status.Sure that may sound like a lot but realize that those MQMs can be earned flying Delta or any of their partner airlines meaning theoretically you could earn lifetime Delta Gold Medallion status without setting foot on a Delta aircraft. This also means that bonus MQMs from flying premium cabin would also count towards lifetime status.

With all of that said, there is a cheat code to earn lifetime status easier than with Delta. In particular, if you hold Air France Platinum status for 10 years in a row you'll earn lifetime Air France Platinum status (which is essentially the highest tier on SkyTeam status). However, this would require you to earn 580 status credits (they call their currency XP but it's very similar to QF status credits) flying SkyTeam and some of Air France's internal airlines like airCalin per year every year for 10 years. I could be mistaken here but I highly doubt many of us can attain such a lofty goal given the amount of flying involved on SkyTeam airlines to hit that status.

One thing I enjoy about holding status with Delta (and this is true with other SkyTeam airlines BTW) is the fact that benefits extend across the board with various SkyTeam and partner airlines. For instance, the moment I got Delta Medallion Gold I was able to select virtually any seat in economy on KLM flights. Ditto for Delta's Canadian partner, WestJet. As someone who held United Premier Gold (Star Alliance) status for a long time, this was something that was never available to me. Don't get me wrong, I did have access to things like extra checked bags and lounges, priority security and boarding, but nothing like better seating on partner airlines.

-RooFlyer88