Travel

Current airline elite standing match and problem choices it’s best to find out about

December 1, 2022

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Editor’s be aware: This is a recurring submit, commonly up to date with new data.

We’re all in search of methods to make air journey extra snug and reasonably priced. Benefits like upgrades, lounge entry, early boarding, free seat choice and waived baggage charges are universally fascinating however solely relevant to the small share of flyers who maintain elite standing — or the proper bank card.

Most elite flyers earn standing by way of the standard methodology of many days within the air and 1000’s of {dollars} spent with a single airline. However, there are methods to get round these necessities or leverage present elite standing to leap ship to a different service.

This may be particularly invaluable for those who notice you won’t be capable to requalify for a similar elite standing you at present maintain. In this information, I’ll spotlight how one can shortcut your option to elite perks by finishing a standing problem or (for those who’re fortunate) by using a straight standing match.

Preparation and precautions

Let’s first cowl some primary methods and rules that can assist you full a standing problem or efficiently receive a match.

With a standing match, an airline will provide you with an equal or decrease standing tier based mostly on the standing you’ve already earned with a competing service’s program. The matching airline will ask for proof of your standing, normally by way of a photograph of your membership card and a mileage assertion exhibiting your current exercise.

Warning: A Photoshopped or HTML code-altered credential solely dangers getting you in hassle with packages. It might result in extra extreme penalties, like shedding your account altogether. It’s not price it, so don’t strive it.

With a standing problem, an airline could or could not require you to have standing already. The service will specify the variety of elite qualifying miles you could earn — and generally elite qualifying {dollars} you could spend — in a given timeframe to attain a particular elite tier. Some challenges have totally different qualifying necessities for every standing tier, and others even allow you to take pleasure in non permanent standing through the problem interval.

It’s essential to grasp precisely how the standing problem you enroll in works. For instance, it’s best to at all times double-check which qualifying miles, {dollars} and segments depend towards the problem. For instance, cobranded bank cards that aid you earn standing are generally excluded from standing challenges.

Additionally, companion airline tickets will not be at all times eligible for standing challenges. With the usually difficult formulation required to decipher these earnings, be sure you double and triple-check your analysis when planning your problem technique.

Sometimes standing matches and challenges are focused to particular members. Ensure your e-mail preferences are set as much as obtain all provides accessible and comply with TPG to know when the occasional non-targeted standing match seems.

Just a few different issues to bear in mind:

Most standing challenges and matches are restricted to as soon as per lifetime per account. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are notable exceptions, providing them as soon as each 5 and three years, respectively.
You typically can’t match standing from one other airline in the identical alliance.
Try to finish a match or problem after June so you’ll be able to take pleasure in standing the remainder of the 12 months and hopefully have an opportunity to maintain it by means of the next calendar 12 months (it’s best to learn the phrases to make sure this works on the particular service).
Keep an eye fixed on airline mergers and acquisitions so you’ll be able to strategically full a standing match or problem with the airline being absorbed. This will hopefully grandfather you into standing with the brand new airline.

Airlines don’t at all times publicize their standing match and problem alternatives. Many telephone calls and emails to generic “contact us” addresses are sometimes needed, as is checking websites like StatusMatcher. For packages the place an official standing match alternative just isn’t made publicly accessible, your expertise could differ from different flyers — since whether or not or not you get matched could rely on the agent who processes your request.

Now, let’s check out the present standing match and problem choices throughout the most important airways.

Alaska Airlines

There as soon as was a time when Alaska Airlines would outright match standing from competing carriers, no questions requested. However, standing matches now embrace a problem part.

When you request a standing match, you’ll obtain a corresponding standing degree in Alaska’s Mileage Plan program for 90 days. To hold the standing after this era, you’ll must fly a sure variety of miles on flights marketed by Alaska Airlines and operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or SkyWest Airlines, relying on what tier you’re matching to:

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

Unfortunately, there’s no standing match alternative to Alaska’s MVP Gold 100K tier.

To submit a request, head to the devoted standing match web page and add a screenshot of your present competing mileage assertion together with your identify, standing, and miles earned this 12 months or miles flown the prior 12 months to earn elite standing.

If you’re matched to MVP Gold 75K, you’re not eligible for the 50,000 bonus miles related to qualifying for MVP Gold 75K standing. However, matches to Gold and Gold 75K do embrace nominations for Gold Guest Upgrades, and lounge day passes. MVP Gold 75K MVP nominations will probably be accessible after the member has met the flight requirement through the preliminary 90-day interval for the respective elite standing.

Note that for those who make your request by the top of June and full the necessities, you’ll be able to hold your new standing by means of the top of the calendar 12 months. If you begin your standing match on or after July 1, your standing will probably be legitimate by means of the top of the next 12 months. Keep this in thoughts when deciding time your problem.

American Airlines

American Airlines makes use of Loyalty Points as its elite standing metric. In October, American unveiled its standing problem program, named ”Instant Status Pass.“

In order to register for a standing match, you will have must examine underneath the “Promotions” tab of your AAdvantage account homepage or contact the AAdvantage customer support heart (800-433-7300). The American consultant will present particulars of your customized provide.

When you register for a problem, you’ll be given particulars on what your provide entails and also will be charged a co-pay, based mostly on numerous components — together with your present standing with American and your historic flying patterns with American to call just a few.

American’s revamped standing problem will now be damaged up into three phases, every consisting of a four-month interval, with the primary section starting as quickly as you register. During this time, you may immediately start having fun with the advantages of the standing tier that you simply signed up for.

To lengthen your non permanent standing for one more 4 months, you’ll must earn a prorated quantity of Loyalty Points, equating to roughly one-third of the complete, yearlong requirement.

AAdvantage Gold: 10,000 Loyalty Points.
AAdvantage Platinum: 25,000 Loyalty Points.
AAdvantage Platinum Pro: 42,000 Loyalty Points.
AAdvantage Executive Platinum: 67,000 Loyalty Points.

During every four-month section, you will have to earn Loyalty Points by means of qualifying actions with American or its flying and non-flying companions in addition to from cobranded bank card spending. All actions will depend towards your standing problem.

Ultimately, no matter standing you’re striving for is dependent upon what number of Loyalty Points you earn within the first section. Regardless of which standing tier you registered for, you’ll start the second section with the standing advantages that you simply unlocked within the earlier section.

Additionally, there’s at present an American Airline standing choice for World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members. When you register by Dec. 28, Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members who’ve linked (or will hyperlink their accounts by Dec. 12) are eligible for American Airlines standing from American’s Instant Status Pass. Explorist and Globalist members obtain immediate Platinum and Platinum Pro standing, respectively. Status is legitimate for 4 months after registering, and you will have to earn a sure variety of Loyalty Points to increase or improve your standing for one more 4 months.

Delta Air Lines

Delta has a public SkyMiles Medallion standing problem touchdown web page the place you’ll be able to add proof of your present standing with a qualifying airline and request a problem.

Each standing tier requires you to earn a set variety of Medallion Qualification Miles or Medallion Qualification Segments and Medallion Qualification Dollars. For instance, these matching to Platinum Medallion standing must earn 18,750 MQMs or 25 MQSs and $2,250 MQDs through the 90-day standing match interval.

If you meet the necessities, your standing validity is dependent upon the date you registered for the standing problem. Since we’re nearing the top of the 12 months, any problem began after July 1, 2022 and full the problem: Medallion standing will probably be prolonged by means of Jan. 31, 2024. Keep an eye fixed on Delta’s web site for data on subsequent 12 months’s expiration dates.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier’s most up-to-date standing match provide ended on Dec. 31, 2021, and no new provide has been introduced. You can, nevertheless, fill out this registration kind to be notified if that adjustments.

In the previous, Frontier has even supplied matches to these with resort elite standing.

Hawaiian Airlines

While not publicly marketed, HawaiianMiles has traditionally supplied standing matches as much as top-tier Platinum standing on a case-by-case foundation by way of its on-line contact kind.

Hawaiian Airlines requires two issues:

Proof of present elite standing.
Documentation of flights accomplished that earned the elite standing, together with flight exercise to a minimum of one among Hawaiian’s locations.

Matches are good for one calendar 12 months from the time of improve.

JetBlue Airways

There are at present no standing match or problem choices for JetBlue. However, you’ll be able to earn Mosaic standing by spending $50,000 yearly on the JetBlue Plus or JetBlue Business Card.

The data for the JetBlue Plus and JetBlue Business playing cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Boeing 737-800 inside. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

The Southwest standing match and problem packages have been beforehand troublesome to search out — it required calling in and discovering an agent who knew the packages existed. But the airline has now introduced the packages out of the shadows and has all of the phrases and situations on its web site.

You’ll must have standing with one other home airline to be eligible to match to Southwest A-List standing, however it seems any standing will do. To begin the method, e-mail your full identify, Rapid Rewards account quantity and proof of elite standing to southwest.statusmatch@wnco.com.

Once the request is processed, you’ll obtain promotional A-List standing for 90 days. According to Southwest, this sometimes occurs inside 12 enterprise days of submission.

To lengthen your A-List standing for a further 12 months, you could ebook and full three qualifying round-trip flights (or six one-ways) inside 90 days. Flights should be income fares, not award tickets. Current A-List members with expiring standing will not be eligible to standing match.

Note that the phrases and situations state you could ebook and full your flights through the 90-day interval, so present bookings theoretically received’t depend. However, since Southwest makes it simple to cancel and rebook flights with out penalty, it’s best to be capable to flip present bookings into new ones with out an excessive amount of hassle so long as the fare hasn’t elevated.

Do be aware that the Southwest standing match is offered to you for those who haven’t obtained promotional A-List standing in any program — together with a standing match and problem — throughout the final 12 months.

Spirit Airlines

Those with present elite standing on many U.S. carriers are eligible for a 90-day standing match to Spirit’s Silver or Gold tiers, relying on their present elite standing.

Here’s a take a look at elite statuses which might be eligible for Spirit’s standing match:

Airline	Silver standing match	Gold standing match
Alaska Airlines	MVP.	MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K.
American Airlines	Gold	Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum.
Delta Air Lines	Silver Medallion.	Platinum, Gold and Diamond Medallion.
Frontier	Unclear, error on Spirit’s web site.	N/A.
Hawaiian	Gold.	Platinum.
JetBlue	N/A.	Mosaic.
Southwest	A-List.	A-List Preferred and Companion Pass.
United Airlines	Premier Silver.	Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K.

This standing may be prolonged by fulfilling the next necessities within the 90-day window:

Free Spirit Silver: Earn 500 SQPs 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.

It is likely to be price enrolling on this standing match if in case you have an upcoming journey with Spirit. Both Silver and Gold elite members get a bunch of waived charges, like free seat choice, precedence boarding and same-day standby. You’re even eligible for a free checked and carry-on bag on the Gold degree.

You can register for this standing match on Spirit’s web site.

United Airlines

United is providing a Premier Status Match Challenge promotion by means of Dec. 20. You can register for and undertake one if in case you have elite standing with one among lots of the main U.S. or British airways.

After you enroll by way of the web kind, you have got 120 days to earn a set variety of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying factors to increase your elite standing. You will maintain non permanent standing through the problem interval.

Challenges are restricted to as soon as each 5 years per MileagePlus account. Once you requalify, your new United elite standing is legitimate by means of January 2024.

Bottom line

Airlines sometimes make the most of a match or problem to lure elite prospects (who signify a major income supply) away from the competitors. However, that doesn’t imply we, the purchasers, can’t profit from these alternatives as nicely. Status matches and challenges may be a good way to start out with standing for those who transfer to a hub the place your present airline would not fly.

Additionally, they supply a shortcut to nice perks and cost-saving measures equivalent to waived charges. It might even make sense to undertake a problem to take pleasure in advantages for one particular (possible worldwide) journey.

That stated, be sure you perceive all of the phrases and situations of a standing match or problem earlier than you apply, and make sure you’ll be able to meet the necessities earlier than submitting your request. Also, don’t overlook to examine for match or problem alternatives with overseas carriers that might present alliance elite standing for lounge entry or elevated baggage capability on home airways.

Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Richard Kerr, Andrew Kunesh and Kyle Olsen.