Delta and Amex Status Match (Targeted)

If you have an American Express® card and are currently a member of an airline elite status program, keep an eye out for a targeted offer for Delta status match.

Targeted American Express cardholders will be given an exclusive opportunity to upgrade to Delta Air Lines’ Medallion Status. The special offer was emailed to eligible members with at least The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express EveryDay Preferred Card.

The offer allows you to have your status matched for three months and then have it extended depending on your qualifying activity during that trial period. But what makes Delta and Amex status match offer unique is:

• Your status will be valid until August 31 (approximately six months), which is a long period for temporary status before you complete the requirements to maintain it.
• You’ll receive elite status with Delta at a level higher than your current airline elite status.
• Plus, you’ll also stand a chance to extend this status until Jan 31, 2023, if you have successfully completed the extension offer.

What are Delta Medallion Status Perks Like?

• Your miles have no expiration date and may be used to travel to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
• You can use your points on any Delta Air Lines flight, with no blackout periods.
• Your miles will stack up faster when you shop, dine, book a stay, request rides, rent cars, and more with your Delta SkyMiles American Express Card.

As a Medallion Member, you’ll also enjoy the following perks:

• Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades for you and your travel companion
• Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) - a Delta exclusive
• Priority Boarding
• Waived Baggage Fees
• Preferred Seats

See more status benefits here: https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/medallion-benefits

NOTE: Diamond and Platinum Choice Benefits are only provided when the member has met the criteria to prolong their Delta elite membership.

How Does Status Match Work?

1. Find out if you are eligible to participate in the Status Match Offer if you fulfill all of the following requirements:

• You received this offer via e-mail from American Express:

Alternatively, you can also go to this link to check if you are targeted.

You currently hold elite status with a qualifying airline, which you obtained by meeting the airline's specified requirements (complimentary status or status earned through a promotion does not qualify).

The qualifying airlines are:

• Alaska
• American
• JetBlue
• SouthWest
• United

You are able to present both 1) a valid, non-expired elite physical or digital membership card or credential with your name and expiration date on it and 2) a statement showing your earned elite status with an airline and the corresponding activity with that airline that enabled the status tier, with your name on it. 

NOTE: For both materials, you may upload an image, screenshot of your app or computer screen, or other file formats as long as it clearly shows the required information, valid expiration date, your elite status level, and your name.

2. Submit your request by filling out the form and including a screenshot of your current status.

3. Once your request is approved, you will be automatically enrolled in the offer and matched to Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion Status based on your current elite status with another airline. Your complimentary Status Match will last until August 31, 2022. If your request is not approved, you’ll receive an email notifying you of Delta’s decision. Reviewing and approval of your status typically take 14 days after submission.

What Delta SkyMiles Status Will You Qualify for?

The Deal

‍

If you want to maintain your status through Jan 31, 2023 – you’ll have to hit these thresholds:

Notice that they are matched up to Diamond (e.g. AAdvantage Platinum Pros and above, United Platinums and above), and there is no spending requirement or Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement, only miles or segments.

For context:

• MQM is an abbreviation for "Medallion Qualifying Miles," and the number of miles you earn is determined by the distance and fare class you fly.
• MQS stands for “Medallion Qualifying Segments,” which refers to the number of segments flown.
• MQD means "Medallion Qualifying Dollars," and it refers to the amount of eligible flight spending.
• Only MQMs earned on Delta and partner airlines are eligible for this criteria, thus MQMs earned through credit card purchases don’t qualify.
• The MQD waiver applies if you make $25,000 or more in qualifying purchases with eligible co-branded Delta Amex cards during the calendar year by the end of your three-month trial.
  

What happens if you don’t hit 50K MQMs by Aug 31, 2022? If you fall short of meeting the Diamond requirement by Aug 31, 2022, you can still retain the Platinum Medallion Status, if you hit 28,000 MQMs. Fortunately, flying at least with Gold Medallion or Platinum Medallion requirements will extend the respective status until Jan 31, 2023.

However, Delta emphasizes that only tickets marketed or operated by Delta and Delta Connection are eligible for this status match. Furthermore, despite earning elite status metrics through 2022, the terms state that award tickets do not count toward requalification.

Final Thoughts

It's no accident that this Delta promotion launched on the same day as American Airlines' new Loyalty Points status scheme. That might be great news for anyone who started the year with a lot of qualifying activity with American Airlines, which has now earned them the 30,000+ Loyalty Points necessary to obtain AAdvantage Gold or higher status. If you were also targeted for this Delta elite status upgrade offer, your American Airlines Gold level may be converted to Delta Gold status, which would be a pleasant surprise.

‍