Yet another competitor is looking lustily at potentially erstwhile Southwest elites. Delta Air Lines has followed AA‘s example and modified its Medallion Status Match Challenge to give higher status matches to Southwest customers for a limited time.
Previously, Southwest A-list and A-list Preferred members could only be matched to Delta Silver and Gold, respectively. Until the end of September, they will be matched one level higher, meaning that A-List Preferred will receive Delta Platinum Medallion status.
Status will be given temporarily for 90 days. However, unlike AA’s Instant Status Pass, which essentially requires you to requalify every four months, Delta gives you status all the way through the end of January 2027 if you meet the terms of the offer.
The Deal
- For a limited time, Southwest elite members can receive a higher instant status match to Delta Air Lines:
- A-List members will be matched to Gold Medallion status instead of Silver
- A-List Preferred members will be matched to Platinum Medallion status instead of Gold
- Valid for submissions received until 9/30/25
- Once registered, the member can extend their status by earning the required amount of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) during the 3-month complimentary period, from Delta flights:
- Silver – $1,250 MQDs
- Gold – $2,500 MQDs
- Platinum – $3,750 MQDs
Terms and Conditions
- This limited-time offer provides a higher status match within the Status Match Challenge and is exclusive to Southwest Rapid Rewards® A-List and A-List Preferred members; offer valid on only submission requests received between March 24, 2025, and September 30, 2025.
- To be eligible for the Delta Status Match offer, a SkyMiles Member must (a) be enrolled in the SkyMiles Program for at least 30 days prior to enrolling for the Status Match offer and (b) within the last 3 years as a SkyMiles Member, have flown on at least 1 Delta-marketed flight (with Member’s SkyMiles account number included on the reservation) on a fare class that is not Basic Economy. If your Status Match Challenge request is accepted, you may only enroll in this offer once every three (3) years.
- A SkyMiles Member who Delta determine to be qualify for and is enrolled in this offer is eligible to extend the complimentary Medallion Status received through Status Match by (1) earning the required amount of MQDs during the Match Period (defined below), and (2) flying on at least one Delta-marketed flight during the Match Period (excluding Basic Economy).
- Offer to extend complimentary Medallion Status earned through Status Match is only valid for MQDs earned within 90 days from time of account upgrade (“Match Period”) and will not include MQDs earned prior to enrollment or after the Match Period.
- Participation does not guarantee Medallion Status. Promotional, temporary, and complimentary elite status (including earned status through any promotional or status match program) on other airlines will not be eligible for this Status Match offer.
- Matched Status will expire after 90 days, unless that level or a higher level of Medallion Status is awarded prior to that date. During the Match Period, you will not have access to Choice Benefits unless you earn Platinum or Diamond Medallion Status through the published requirements at delta.com.
- This offer is not available to Members who were previously enrolled at any time since January 1, 2022, or who are currently enrolled, in: a Status Match Challenge; Reclaim My Status, or Corporate accelerated Medallion Status offer.
- If required MQDs are earned during the Match Period, Medallion Status earned will be awarded through January 31, 2027.
Delta elite benefits
| SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM | DIAMOND | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles per dollar earned on paid flights | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
| Free domestic upgrades to 1st Class | Begins 24 hours before departure | Begins 72 hours before departure | Begins 120 hours before departure | Begins 120 hours before departure |
| Free domestic upgrades to Comfort+ | 24 hours before departure | 72 hours before departure | Shortly after ticketing | Shortly after ticketing |
| CLEAR membership discount price | $159 | $159 | $159 | Free |
| Dedicated phone line | Priority | High Priority | Higher Priority | VIP Line |
| Free companion upgrades | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free preferred seat selection | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Waived bag fees | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Waived same day confirmed or standby change fees | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sky Priority boarding | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sky Priority expedited checked bags | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sky Team lounge access on international flights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Hertz elite status | Five Star | Five Star | President's Circle | President's Circle |
| Waived change & cancellation fees regardless of route | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 2025 Choice Benefits | Choose 1: | Choose 3: | ||
| Upgrade certificates | 4 Regional | 4 Global (or 8 Regional or 2 Global & 4 Regional) | ||
| Statement Credits (for Delta Platinum and Reserve Cardholders) | $400 | $700 | ||
| Starbucks® Rewards Stars | 6,000 Stars | 6,000 Stars | ||
| Delta Sky Club® Individual Membership | N/A | Requires 2 Choices | ||
| Delta Sky Club® Executive Membership | N/A | Requires 3 Choices | ||
| MQD Accelerator | $1,000 MQDs | $2,000 MQDs | ||
| Gift medallion status | 2 Silver | 2 Gold | ||
| Bonus miles | 30K | 35K | ||
| Delta Vacations Flight + Hotel Cert | $400 | $500 | ||
| Sustainable Aviation Fuel Contribution | $250 | $250 | ||
| Delta Travel Voucher | $300 | $350 | ||
| Wheels up flight credit | $1,500 | $2,000 |
- Unlimited complimentary upgrades (when available, upgrade from coach to first class on domestic flights). Higher status leads to better chance of upgrades.
- Waived same-day confirmed fees and waived same-day standby fees (switch to different flight on same day as ticketed flight). Requires Gold or higher. Info about getting value from same day changes can be found here: Leveraging Delta’s Same Day Flight Changes.
- Complementary Preferred seat selection (choose exit row seats with lots of legroom)
- Complementary Comfort+ Seats (more leg room, free drinks, better snacks).
- Regional upgrade certificates. While these rarely confirm before the flight, waitlisting a regional upgrade puts you to the front of the line for upgrading at the gate. This is great to use for flights where upgrades are most important to you. For example, I use these for flights of about 3 hours or longer. This is a choice benefit for Platinum and Diamond status. Upgrade certificates can be applied to both paid and award tickets.
- Global upgrade certificates. Use these to upgrade from economy to Premium Select, or from Premium Select to business class on any flight when upgrade space is available. When you upgrade from economy to Premium Select, Delta will put you on the business class (Delta One) upgrade list 24 hours before your flight. This is a choice benefit for Diamond status only. Upgrade certificates can be applied to both paid and award tickets.
- Free award changes and cancellations. This used to be huge, but now all awards originating in North America are free to change or cancel for all members. With Platinum and Diamond status, that benefit extends to flights originating elsewhere. Requires Platinum or higher for free changes on awards originating outside of North America.
Quick Thoughts
Thankfully, Delta’s status match challenge is much more straightforward than AA’s. It gives you three months of Delta Medallion status plus the ability to earn a full year of status with fewer Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) than normally required.
To extend your matched status past three months, you must earn the following numbers of MQDs during the three month trial period:
IF you meet the challenge requirements, your status will be good for the rest of this calendar year, all of 2026 and through January of 2027, effectively giving you two full years of status.
During the challenge, Southwest elites will enjoy a meaningful status to fly with while they’re trying qualify. Both Gold and Platinum offer complimentary first class upgrades (good luck with that on most flights), upgrades to Comfort Plus seating, free checked bags and waived same-day confirmed or standby change fees.
This promo could be worth taking a bite at, both for folks who only want status for a short period and for those who actually are looking for another airline to call home. It will require some organization, though, and it’s worth waiting to register until you know that you either take advantage of the benefits or earn enough MQDs to extend your status.
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Maybe Delta should promote us up a level or offer some new benefits to those members loyal to them for many many years!