First class upgrades. Preferred seats. Free first checked bags. Preferential treatment.
These are some of the big perks airline elite status gives its members.
But are the time, money, and effort of pursuing elite status worth the investment for leisure travelers? Or can chasing status be part of the fun?
This morning the world learned that United — being United — made yet another bonehead move to drive frequent flyers to Delta, that is, dumping distance miles as part of the elite equation.
Achieving Million Miler status is a pretty big accomplishment. Each time you accrue a million miles on an airline, the carrier gives you a gift of some sort.
Delta gives you annual Silver at 1M or Gold status at 2M & 3M or Platinum at 4M (depending on how many millions of miles you’ve earned) and some luggage or jewelry.
United, meanwhile, steps it up. While UA may not give you premium luggage or shiny bracelets, they gift both you and a companion annual elite status. American gives you miles and upgrades.
Nice, right?
Is it time for once Delta copy United and American — and up their Million Miler game?
If you hold elite status with an airline other than Delta, today is the day to begin a Delta Medallion status match challenge. Once you match status and meet certain challenge thresholds for MQM (Medallion Qualification Miles) or MQS (Medallion Qualification Segments) and MQD (Medallion Qualification Dollar) spending, you’ll hold Delta status the rest of this year and all of next Medallion year — which ends on January 31, 2021! But today is critical in the status match challenge calendar. I’ll tell you why in a minute. What Are the Status Match Requirements? There are three requirements to qualify for a status match challenge — and you must meet all of them. Per Delta: You have not received a Status Match or complimentary Medallion Status in the past three years, unless the complimentary Medallion Status was through your Million Miler Status. You currently have elite status with a qualifying airline that was earned through…
