Delta’s SkyMiles Status Match Challenge Ensures You Experience More Comfort and Style - Sooner!
Expiration Date – December 31, 2016
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The SkyMiles Medallion Status Match Challenge offers non-Delta Air Lines Elite flyers a faster way to achieve Medallion Elite Status.
If you qualify for Delta’s standard SkyMiles Status Match Challenge, you will be upgraded immediately to SkyMiles Silver, Gold or Platinum status for 90 days - based on the Elite status level you hold with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines or United Airlines*:
In order to keep the Elite Medallion status you are granted after the initial 90 days, a certain number of Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs) will be required on flights operated by Delta or Delta Connection within the initial 90-day offer period.
If you register for the offer and complete the flight requirements, your Medallion status will be maintained all the way until January 31, 2018!
This offer is available to most and the number or MQMs or MQSs required depends on the Medallion status level you are granted once accepted by Delta:
MQMs - Medallion Qualification Miles
On Delta, Delta Shuttle, or Delta Connection-marketed flights you earn MQMs based on the percentage of the actual distance flown outlined below:
200% of the actual distance flown - First (fare class F) and Business (fare class J)
150% of the actual distance flown - Discounted First (fare classes P, A, G), Business and Discounted Business (fare classes C, D, I, Z), Premium Economy (fare class W on flights operated by Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia) and Economy (fare classes Y, B)
100% of the actual distance flown - Economy, Discounted and Deeply Discounted Economy (fare classes M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V, E) and Comfort+ (fare class W)
No MQMs earned - Award Travel (fare classes R, O, N)
MQSs - Medallion Qualification Segments
- MQSs are calculated by each segment of your flight (if you have 1 connection on a 1-way flight, you’ve completed two MQSs)
- MQSs are not earned on Award Travel (fare classes R, O, N)
Here are the requirements to submit your Delta SkyMiles Status Match Challenge request:
If you qualify, complete this form. You will then receive an email confirming approval status within seven to 14 days.
You must be a member of Delta SkyMiles to complete the form. You will be asked to send a copy of your most recent mileage summary or membership card that clearly states your status level and the expiration date of your current status.
As we mentioned, Delta clearly defines that American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines Elite members are welcome to participate in the challenge if accepted. But Delta will also accept Elite flyers from other airlines on a case-by-case basis. We encourage those who both wish to participate in this challenge and already hold status with another airline to submit the request form to Delta.
Strings attached? Sure there are. Here are the important ones:
Those who participated in a Delta status match program in the past do not qualify for this offer
Those with promotional or temporary Elite status on other airlines will not be eligible for this promotion
Members may enjoy the Medallion level benefits on Delta and Delta Connection during the first 90 days by providing their account number (members will not be issued an Elite card unless they successfully complete the challenge); but members may not be granted reciprocal Medallion benefits with Delta's partner airlines, including access to the Delta SkyTeam lounges
Bonus offer MQMs/MQSs, promotional MQMs/MQSs, and/or credit card MQMs will not count toward this offer
Through this offer, members may maintain the same or lower Medallion status level as their matched status (e.g. if you are matched to Silver Medallion status, you will not be able to earn Gold Medallion status through this offer, even if you fly more than 12,500 MQMs or 15 MQSs during the offer period, but if you have been matched to Gold Medallion status and you only fly 6,250 MQMs or 8 MQSs, you will earn Silver Medallion status)
Members who are eligible and complete the Status Match Challenge are ineligible for Rollover MQMs unless they earn more MQMs or Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) than the matched status requirement for the full year (e.g. if you are matched to Silver Medallion status in 2016 and also earn 25,000 MQMs and $3,000 MQDs in 2016, you will be able to roll over 5,000 MQMs since you’ve met the 2016 Silver Medallion requirements)
The Wrap-Up:
If you currently hold Elite status with another airline and are either unsatisfied with that airline or your flight patterns have changed (e.g. you moved to a city better serviced by Delta or the routes to the cities you most frequently travel to are more economical or convenient on Delta), a status match challenge makes a lot of sense.
Be aware you only receive one chance in a lifetime to participate in a Delta Status Match Challenge, unless you’re granted an exception, so choose your 90-day challenge period wisely!
If you succeed and are able to travel in great comfort and style with Delta sooner, we’d love a nice note on Facebook and Twitter!
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