Get Free Delta Medallion Status With Status Match [Applications Now Live!]

Delta hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2023 when it made drastic changes to its loyalty program, ruffling the feathers of many of its most loyal and frequent flyers.

After backtracking slightly at the end of 2023, the Atlanta-based airline is now trying to lure frequent flyers from other airline loyalty programs to switch their alliance to Delta with a free Medallion elite status promotion.

Status match applications are officially live, so let’s take a look at the details.

Delta’s Status Match Promotion

Successful applicants will get 3 months of free status to start of with. Delta then proposes a “challenge” on which completion would mean unlocking the status through January 2026 — that’s almost 2 whole years of “free” Delta status.

Here’s how it works.

How To Get Free Delta Medallion Status for 3 Months

First things first, there’s a select list of airline loyalty programs which can be matched through this promotion.

If you apply for this status match, your current elite status will be matched with a specific level of Delta Medallion status which is detailed in the tables below.

The list includes 6 US- and Canada-based Airlines:

Elite status from the following 9 international airlines’ frequent flyer programs is also included in the promotion.

Check Your Eligibility

This is a very generous promotion, so to limit the number of potential applications, there are some specific eligibility criteria to know about.

• Candidates must not have gained promotional, complimentary, or status match Medallion status in the last 3 years
• The airline status used for the match must have been gained in the regularly published way i.e: status matches won’t be accepted
• A copy of a valid physical or digital membership card with the applicant’s name is required
• Proof that status with the matching airline was earned with the required activity
• Candidates must have been a SkyMiles member for at least 60 days before applying for the status match
• Candidates must have flown at least 1 Delta-marketed flight in a higher class than basic economy in the 3 years before application

These conditions, which are more restrictive than most status match promotions, will no doubt reduce the number of potential candidates.

Ultimately, that’s not a bad thing as the whole reason behind Delta’s loyalty program changes back in 2023 was because there were simply so many passengers with status, that it had started to lose its value.

Delta Status Match Applications Are Now Open

As of January 26, 2024, status match applications are now live.

However, you’ll want to time it right and only apply if you have plans to fly with Delta in the next 3 months. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy the perks of the status beyond the promotional period.

How to Lock In Delta Medallion Status Until 2026

Once the 3-month complimentary Delta Medallion Status has been awarded, you can extend this through the end of 2026 by earning the following amounts of MQDs:

• $1,250 MQDs to extend Silver
• $2,500 MQDs to extend Gold
• $3,750 MQDs to extend Platinum

These amounts are significantly lower than the requirement to earn status the usual way.

Final Thoughts

Delta’s status match promotion is a great way to leverage your current frequent flyer status to gain complimentary Medallion Status with Delta.

The irony is that this could contribute to the issue of too many flyers having status that Delta tried to put an end to last year with drastic changes to its loyalty program.

Whichever way you look at it, it’s still a great perk for those who are able to make the most it.