Whereas most loyalty packages don’t supply a approach to lengthen elite standing past the present 12 months, there is a workaround accessible: By matching your expiring elite standing to a competing loyalty program, you’ll be able to probably preserve your advantages by deciding on totally different carriers.
Quite a few airline loyalty packages present the chance to match elite advantages from different packages. As an example, in case your Delta Air Strains Medallion elite standing will expire subsequent 12 months, you may have the ability to match it to a competitor’s program. This sometimes grants you short-term elite standing with the competing program that you would be able to lengthen by assembly particular flight or income necessities.
Subsequently, for those who qualify, you’ll be able to acquire complimentary elite standing with one other airline. Preserve studying to be taught extra about present airline standing matches and challenges you’ll be able to snag in 2025.
What’s an airline standing match?
A standing match sometimes entails getting an equal or decrease standing tier with a brand new airline primarily based in your current standing with a competitor’s program. So, why would airways supply a standing match problem?
If a traveler has proven vital loyalty to 1 specific airline and program, this conduct could be enticing 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. For instance, perhaps somebody moved from a metropolis like Houston, the place United Airways is the dominant service, to Atlanta, the place Delta Air Strains has its largest hub.
If you wish to check out one other program however do not fancy ranging from scratch, a standing match or problem could be a good way to resolve this downside. It is value exploring the key elite standing match and problem alternatives accessible 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 essential methods and ideas to recollect when pursuing a standing match or problem.
For a standing match, it’s essential to sometimes 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} it’s essential to earn inside a selected timeframe to realize a selected elite tier. It’s best to perceive the necessities and which actions rely towards the problem, as some cobranded bank cards or companion airline tickets could also be excluded. Keep in mind that standing matches and challenges are sometimes restricted to as soon as per lifetime per account, though some carriers have exceptions.
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It’s often suggested to finish a match or problem after June to take pleasure in standing for the remainder of the 12 months and probably retain it for the next 12 months. Nevertheless, latest airline standing match challenges, just like the one Delta started providing in 2024, will assist you to preserve standing by way of January 2027.
Moreover, it is value mentioning that airways could not all the time publicize their standing match and problem alternatives. You might must name or electronic mail the airline’s customer support or test web sites like StatusMatcher. Keep in mind that the result of your request could differ relying on the agent processing it.
Associated: Is airline elite standing nonetheless value it?
Alaska Airways standing match
Since Alaska Airways acquired Hawaiian Airways in 2024, the packages now supply reciprocal elite standing matches. Should you maintain standing with HawaiianMiles, go to this web page to request the equal Alaska Airways Mileage Plan standing.
Should you maintain standing with one other airline, you should still have the ability to get a match — however Alaska’s standing match course of features a problem element. Alaska will match elite standing from the next packages:
- Aeromexico Rewards
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- American Airways AAdvantage
- Delta SkyMiles
- Frontier Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
You’ll be granted the corresponding standing stage within the Alaska Airways Mileage Plan program for 90 days. To retain this standing past the preliminary interval, it’s essential to fly a selected variety of miles on flights marketed by Alaska Airways and operated by Alaska Airways, Horizon or SkyWest, 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, go to the airline’s standing match web page and supply a screenshot of your present mileage assertion displaying your title, standing and miles earned this 12 months or flown within the prior 12 months to realize elite standing. Complimentary standing and standing earned by way of a promotion don’t qualify.
Should you request a standing match by the top of June and fulfill the necessities, your new standing shall be legitimate till the top of the calendar 12 months. Then again, for those who provoke your standing match between July 1 and Dec. 31 and fulfill the necessities, your standing shall be legitimate till the top of the next 12 months, so making use of for it in July or August of this 12 months would maximize the size.
Associated: Final-minute methods for incomes Alaska Airways Mileage Plan elite standing
American Airways standing match
American Airways provides a standing problem program referred to as On the spot Standing Cross to Delta Air Strains, JetBlue, Southwest Airways and United Airways elite members. To take part, you’ll be able to apply on American’s web site and be matched to AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Professional or Government Platinum.
This system consists of three phases, every lasting 4 months. Upon registration, you’ll instantly take pleasure in the advantages of the chosen standing tier. To keep up your short-term standing for an additional 4 months, you’ll want to earn a prorated variety of Loyalty Factors, which is round one-third of the total requirement for a 12 months.
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 section, you’ll be able to earn Loyalty Factors by way of qualifying actions with American, its companions and cobranded bank card spending. These actions rely towards your standing problem.
The standing you obtain within the first section determines your start line within the subsequent section. Which means that whatever the preliminary tier you registered for, you’ll start the second section with the advantages you unlocked within the earlier section.
Associated: Fast Factors: How Hyatt and American loyalists can earn extra rewards by linking accounts
Delta Air Strains standing match
Delta SkyMiles is at the moment providing a standing match, as much as Platinum Medallion, to elite members of assorted airline packages, together with worldwide packages like British Airways Government Membership, Lufthansa Miles & Extra and Virgin Australia Velocity, in addition to most main U.S. packages.
After submitting your data and proof of your present standing, you may be matched to the corresponding Medallion tier for 3 months.
In 2024, Delta moved to a Medallion Qualification Greenback system for incomes standing. Which means it’s essential to earn the next MQD quantities throughout the three-month interval to increase your standing:
- Silver: 1,250 MQDs
- Gold: 2,500 MQDs
- Platinum: 3,750 MQDs
Should you enroll and full these necessities anytime in 2025, your Medallion standing shall be prolonged by way of Jan. 31, 2027.
Associated: Delta to check new fare ‘subcategories’ in 2025; ponders higher-end Amex bank card
Frontier Airways standing match
In keeping with the airline’s web site, “Frontier Standing Match is revamping and shall be coming again shortly.”
For now, Frontier Miles is providing a paid shortcut to standing to pick out journey rewards bank card holders within the U.S. You’ll be able to see for those who’re eligible on this web page, and if that’s the case, you may have the choice to buy Elite Gold standing (this system’s second-lowest tier out of 4) for $499. This standing shall be legitimate by way of Dec. 31, so the sooner you get it, the longer you can take pleasure in it.
Associated: Frontier Miles elite standing: What it’s and the right way to earn it
Hawaiian Airways standing match
Due to Hawaiian Airways’ latest merger with Alaska Airways, Mileage Plan MVP members can request a standing match to HawaiianMiles.
What when you’ve got standing with an airline aside from Alaska? Whereas not publicly marketed, HawaiianMiles has beforehand provided standing matches as much as top-tier Platinum standing on a case-by-case foundation by way of its on-line contact type. It would not damage to ask.
To request a standing match with Hawaiian Airways, the corporate sometimes requires two issues:
- Proof of present elite standing
- Documentation of flights accomplished that earned the elite standing, together with flight exercise to no less than one in every of Hawaiian’s locations
Matches are often good for one calendar 12 months from the time of improve.
Associated: Capitalize on Alaska-Hawaiian merger: Potential methods to maximise your miles, elite standing and extra
ITA Airways standing match
ITA Airways’ loyalty program, Volare, has been identified to run occasional standing match promotions, like this one in the summertime of 2024. Whereas there are not any standing matches proper now, chances are you’ll need to test this system’s checklist of present promotions if that modifications.
A Volare standing match may very well be value contemplating even for those who’re not an ITA Airways frequent flyer, because it provides you a chance to get SkyTeam elite standing.
Associated: SkyTeam alliance information: Member airways, lounges and elite standing
JetBlue standing match
JetBlue TrueBlue launched an ongoing standing match program in August 2024 referred to as Match to Mosaic. Now you can match to Mosaic 1 or 2 from the next packages:
- Alaska Airways Mileage Plan
- American Airways AAdvantage
- Delta SkyMiles
- Free Spirit
- Frontier Miles
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
To apply, submit a screenshot of your frequent flyer program profile displaying your full title and proof of standing. If matching to Mosaic 2, you may want a screenshot or picture of your most up-to-date boarding move or flight affirmation electronic mail displaying your standing.
As soon as accredited, you may obtain complimentary Mosaic standing for 3 months. You’ll be able to lengthen or elevate your standing by incomes a set variety of Tiles, which JetBlue awards for actions like JetBlue flights, cobranded bank card spending, JetBlue trip packages and journey booked by way of Paisly by JetBlue.
To increase your standing by way of the following calendar 12 months, it’s essential to earn the next variety of Tiles throughout the three-month promotional standing interval:
- 10 Tiles to maintain Mosaic 1
- 25 Tiles to maintain Mosaic 2
- 40 Tiles to earn Mosaic 3
Associated: JetBlue Mosaic elite standing: What it’s and the right way to earn it
Lufthansa standing match
In 2024, Lufthansa’s Miles & Extra program launched a standing match supply to elite members of Scandinavian Airways’ EuroBonus program. This match is now not accessible, however you’ll be able to register to be notified of future standing match alternatives.
Scandinavian Airways standing match
SAS’ EuroBonus program provided a standing match promotion final 12 months for Oneworld and Star Alliance elite members, however that is now not accessible. Since SAS joined SkyTeam in 2024 after being a longtime member of Star Alliance, future standing match provides might look very totally different.
Southwest Airways standing match
Beforehand, it was tough to find Southwest Airways’ standing match and problem packages as they weren’t extensively marketed. Nevertheless, the airline has now made these packages extra accessible by offering all of the phrases and situations on its web site.
You will need to have standing with one other home airline to qualify for a Southwest A-Listing standing match. Any standing stage appears to be accepted. To provoke the method, electronic mail southwest.statusmatch@wnco.com along with your full title, Speedy Rewards account quantity and proof of elite standing.
As soon as your request is processed, you’ll obtain promotional A-Listing standing for 90 days.
To increase your A-Listing standing for a further 12 months, it’s essential to ebook and full three qualifying round-trip flights or six one-way flights inside 90 days of affirmation of your enrollment. These flights have to be paid fares, not award tickets. Whereas current bookings could not rely, Southwest permits simple cancellation and rebooking with out penalties. So, you’ll be able to convert current bookings into new ones if the fare has not elevated considerably.
To qualify for the Southwest standing match, it’s essential to not have acquired promotional A-Listing standing from any program — together with standing matches and challenges — throughout the previous 12 months. Present A-Listing members with expiring standing usually are not eligible for a standing match.
Associated: Southwest A-Listing standing: What it’s and the right way to earn it
Spirit Airways standing match
Spirit Airways is providing a limited-time standing match problem, however you may should act quick: The airline should obtain your utility by Jan. 31.
You’ll be able to apply for this standing match for those who maintain elite standing with one of many following:
- Alaska Airways Mileage Plan
- American Airways AAdvantage
- Delta SkyMiles
- Frontier Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
To be eligible, it’s essential to have earned your standing by way of the airline’s revealed necessities. (Complimentary standing or standing earned by way of a promotion doesn’t qualify.) Moreover, it’s essential to not have acquired a standing match or complimentary standing from Free Spirit previously two years.
As soon as accredited, you can be granted 90 days of Free Spirit Silver or Gold standing primarily based in your present elite tier. You’ll be able to lengthen your standing by way of Dec. 31 by incomes sufficient Spirit Qualification Factors on flights operated by Spirit or spending on Spirit’s cobranded card. You will need to earn the next inside your 90 days of complimentary standing to increase it:
- Free Spirit Silver: 500 SQPs
- Free Spirit Gold: 1,250 SQPs
Silver and Gold elite members obtain waived charges for extras like seat choice, precedence boarding and same-day standby. You are even eligible for a free checked and carry-on bag on the Gold stage.
Associated: Is it time to rethink Spirit Airways and its Free Spirit program?
United Airways standing match
United Airways just lately up to date its MileagePlus Premier Standing Match Problem promotion for 2025. Elite members of different packages can register between now and June 30 to obtain complimentary United MileagePlus standing for 120 days.
In keeping with United’s web site, that is solely a partial checklist. The Premier Standing Match Problem type gives a full checklist.
To use, fill out the above type with the required data, together with your MileagePlus account quantity, electronic mail handle and a digital copy of your 2025 membership card for the frequent flyer program you might be matching from. As soon as accredited, you may have 90 days to take an “activating flight” operated by United or United Specific. (Or, for those who’ve taken a qualifying flight on or after Jan. 1, 2025, and inside 30 days earlier than you utilized for the standing match, you’ll be able to request that this flight be thought of your activating flight.)
Your United standing shall be upgraded to Premier Silver, Premier Gold or Premier Platinum inside 5 to seven enterprise days after your activating flight. You’ll maintain this standing for 120 days.
Be sure you time your utility in order that you can full the activating flight requirement. If you don’t full an activating flight inside 90 days of approval, you may turn into ineligible for this and every other United standing match problem in 2025.
As soon as your standing is upgraded, you may have 120 days to earn a set variety of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying factors to increase your elite standing. Notice that the flights have to be operated by United or United Specific; companion flights (together with these on Star Alliance carriers) aren’t eligible.
Should you attain the above thresholds to increase your standing earlier than July 1, 2025, your standing shall be legitimate by way of January 2026. Should you earn standing after July 1, 2025, your standing will final by way of January 2027.
Assembly the above necessities will solely assist you to lengthen your current matched standing tier. To maneuver to a better tier, it’s essential to meet United’s revealed elite standing standards.
Since United standing match challenges are restricted to as soon as each 5 years per MileagePlus account, think twice about whether or not now could be the appropriate time to take part.
Associated: United Premier standing: The right way to earn it — and is it value it?
Virgin Atlantic standing match
Virgin Atlantic provides a publicly accessible standing match to members of choose competing packages.
Relying in your current standing tier, you are eligible for an instantaneous match to Second Tier (Silver) or High 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 accredited for a match.
This is a have a look at what packages and standing tiers are eligible:
| Loyalty program | Second Tier (Silver) | High Tier (Gold) |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 25K or 35K | 50K, 75K or Tremendous Elite |
| Air India Maharaja Membership | Silver | Gold or Platinum |
| American Airways AAdvantage | AAdvantage Platinum Professional | AAdvantage Government Platinum or Concierge Key |
| British Airways Government Membership | Silver | Gold |
| Cathay Pacific | Gold | Diamond |
| Emirates Skywards | Silver | Gold or Platinum |
| HawaiianMiles | Pualani Gold | Pualani Platinum |
| Iberia Plus | Oro | Platino |
| Lufthansa Miles & Extra | Senator (Gold) | Hon Circle |
| South African Airways Voyager | Silver | Gold or Platinum |
| United MileagePlus | Premier Platinum | Premier 1K or International Companies |
As soon as your standing is upgraded, you may take pleasure in your standing for 12 months. This is what it’s essential 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’ll be able to’t use your Delta standing for this match. This supply isn’t accessible to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership members who additionally maintain any stage of membership with one in every of Virgin’s SkyTeam companions or those that have taken benefit of a standing match throughout the previous 5 years.
Associated: Flexibility is vital: Why I (largely) just like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership modifications
Backside line
Standing matches and challenges present a shortcut to having fun with perks and financial savings, particularly in case you are transferring to a hub the place your most popular airline would not function (or has a smaller presence). They may also be advantageous for particular journeys or for those who’re prepared to interrupt up along with your current airline due to unwelcome modifications to its program.
Nevertheless, earlier than making use of for a standing match or problem, perceive the phrases and situations, and select probably the most opportune time to use. Do not overlook alternatives with international carriers that would grant alliance elite standing in addition to supply advantages like lounge entry and elevated baggage capability on home airways.
In case your present elite standing is about to run out, bear in mind to submit your standing match request earlier than it does to keep away from lacking out on the chance. And do not forget to test for different shortcuts to standing, like focused buy-up provides for American AAdvantage standing and United Premier standing.
