Whereas most loyalty applications don’t supply a strategy to prolong elite standing past the present 12 months, a workaround is on the market: By matching your expiring elite standing to a competing loyalty program, you possibly can doubtlessly preserve your advantages by deciding on completely different carriers.

Quite a few airline loyalty applications present the chance to match elite advantages from different applications. As an example, in case your Delta Air Traces Medallion elite standing will expire subsequent 12 months, you would possibly be capable of 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.

Due to this fact, should you qualify, you possibly can acquire complimentary elite standing with one other airline. Hold studying to study extra about present airline standing matches and challenges you possibly can snag in 2024.

What to find out about getting an airline standing match

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

For a standing match, you could 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.

However, a standing problem might or might not require you to have present standing. The airline will specify the variety of elite qualifying miles or {dollars} you could earn inside a selected time-frame to attain a specific elite tier. It’s important to totally perceive the necessities and which actions rely towards the problem, as some cobranded bank cards or associate 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 doubtlessly 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 2026.

Moreover, it is value mentioning that airways might not all the time publicize their standing match and problem alternatives. Chances are you’ll must name or e mail the airline’s customer support and verify web sites like StatusMatcher. Keep in mind that your request’s end result might fluctuate relying on the agent processing it.

Associated: Is airline elite standing nonetheless value it?

Alaska Airways standing match

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

Alaska will match elite standing from the next applications:

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

If you request a standing match, you’ll be granted the corresponding standing stage within the Alaska Mileage Plan program for 90 days. To retain this standing past the preliminary interval, you could fly a selected 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, go to the devoted 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 attain 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 should you efficiently attain the 20,000-mile threshold. Nevertheless, should you match to Gold and fly sufficient to maintain that standing, you’ll obtain 4 Gold visitor upgrades. In the meantime, those that full the MVP Gold 75K problem will obtain these upgrades, plus 4 Alaska Lounge daypasses and the flexibility to appoint somebody for MVP standing.

In case you request a standing match by the tip of June and fulfill the necessities, your new standing might be legitimate till the tip of the calendar 12 months. However, should you provoke your standing match on or after July 1 by way of December and fulfill the necessities, your standing might be legitimate till the tip of the next 12 months, so making use of for it in July or August of this 12 months would maximize the size.

Associated: Alaska Airways MVP elite standing: What it’s and how one can earn it

American Airways standing match

American Airways provides a standing problem program known as Immediate Standing Cross to Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond Medallion members and United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K elite members. To take part, you possibly can 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 take pleasure in the advantages of the chosen standing tier. To keep up the momentary standing for an additional 4 months, that you must 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 part, you possibly can earn Loyalty Factors by way of qualifying actions with American, its companions and cobranded bank card spending. All these actions rely towards your standing problem.

The standing you obtain within the first part determines your place to begin within the subsequent part. Which means whatever the preliminary tier you registered for, you’ll start the second part with the advantages you unlocked within the earlier part.

Associated: Fast Factors: How Hyatt and American loyalists can earn extra rewards by linking accounts

British Airways standing match

British Airways is at present providing a limited-time standing match alternative for British Airways Government Membership members based mostly within the U.S.

From now by way of Could 7, new and present U.S.-based British Airways Government Membership members with elite standing in certainly one of eight airline applications can obtain reciprocal standing with the British Airways Government Membership standing without spending a dime.

Listed below are the applications and standing ranges eligible for this match:

Be aware that you could apply on-line for this supply and supply legitimate proof of eligible frequent flyer standing.

Authorised candidates might be upgraded to the matched British Airways Government Membership tier for six months, with the chance to increase the match for as much as a 12 months by reserving two eligible flights or one return flight, per the supply’s phrases and situations.

Eligible flights embrace BA-marketed business- or first-class flights with origins in North America, Canada or Mexico and touchdown in Europe, Norway or Switzerland. Eligible flights have to be operated by British Airways, American Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia or Finnair.

Delta Air Traces standing match

Delta SkyMiles is at present providing a standing match, as much as Platinum Medallion, to elite members of assorted airways, together with worldwide applications like British Airways Government Membership, Lufthansa Miles & Extra, 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, complimentary, for 3 months.

With Medallion standing transferring to a Medallion Qualification Greenback-earning system in 2024, to increase the standing past the preliminary three months, you would wish to earn the next:

In case you qualify and full the problem’s extra necessities, your Medallion standing might be prolonged by way of Jan. 31, 2026.

Associated: Delta Medallion standing: What it’s and how one can earn it

Frontier Airways standing match

Whereas not but obtainable, you possibly can be a part of the waitlist for Frontier Airways’ 2024 standing match. The touchdown web page does reveal some particulars of the brand new match program, together with that:

• You possibly can match from 45 completely 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 used to be supplied top-tier airline elite standing for $499 — this is why

Hawaiian Airways standing match

Whereas not publicly marketed, HawaiianMiles has beforehand supplied standing matches as much as top-tier Platinum standing on a case-by-case foundation through its on-line contact type. It does 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 very least certainly one of Hawaiian’s locations

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

Associated: Learn how to improve your seat on Hawaiian Airways

Whereas JetBlue beforehand supplied a limited-time standing match for disgruntled Delta Medallion members following the extensively controversial adjustments introduced in 2023, that provide has now ended, and JetBlue at present has no publicly obtainable standing match supply.

Southwest Airways standing match

Beforehand, it was tough to find Southwest’s standing match and problem applications as they weren’t extensively marketed. Nevertheless, the airline has now made these applications extra accessible by offering all of the phrases and situations on its web site.

You could have standing with one other home airline to qualify for a Southwest A-Checklist standing match. Any standing stage appears to be accepted. To provoke the method, e mail southwest.statusmatch@wnco.com together with your full title, Fast Rewards account quantity and proof of elite standing.

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

To increase your A-Checklist standing for a further 12 months, you could 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. Current A-Checklist members with expiring standing aren’t eligible for a standing match.

It is essential to notice that in keeping with the phrases and situations, your flights have to be booked and accomplished through the 90 days. Whereas present bookings might not rely, Southwest permits straightforward cancellation and rebooking with out penalties. This implies you possibly can convert present bookings into new ones if the fare has not elevated considerably.

To qualify for the Southwest standing match, you could not have obtained promotional A-Checklist standing from any program, together with standing matches and challenges, inside the previous 12 months.

Associated: Southwest A-Checklist standing: What it’s and how one can earn it

Spirit Airways standing match

Much like Frontier’s providing, the Spirit standing match is at present unavailable. You possibly can register on Spirit’s web site to affix the waitlist or apply as soon as it turns into obtainable 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 present elite standing.

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

Prior to now, you may 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, resembling free seat choice, precedence boarding and same-day standby. You are even eligible for a free checked and carry-on bag on the Gold stage.

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

Associated: All the pieces you need to know earlier than flying Spirit Airways

United Airways standing match

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

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

In line with United’s web site, that is solely a partial listing. A full listing is on the market on the Premier Standing Match Problem type.

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 case you earn Premier standing on or after July 1, 2024, your elite standing is legitimate by way of January 2026. In case you earn standing earlier than July, your Premier standing is just legitimate by way of January 2025.

Be aware that the flights have to be operated by United or United Specific — associate 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 standing: What it’s and how one can earn it

Virgin Atlantic standing match

Virgin Atlantic provides a publicly obtainable standing match to members of choose competing applications.

Relying in your present 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 accepted for a match. As soon as accepted, your standing match might be legitimate for 12 months from the date the account was upgraded.

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

As soon as your standing is upgraded, you may take pleasure in your standing for 12 months. Here is what it’s important 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 Sky Workforce, you possibly can’t use your Delta standing for this match.

Associated: The final word information to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership