I’m currently enrolled in 3 airline status challenges and matches simultaneously using the same competitor airline, and you can be too! Though it seems crazy, with all of these status challenges, you have the opportunity to keep the status all throughout 2018 (and even into the beginning of 2019) once fulfilled!
United MileagePlus Status Match & Challenge
The first challenge I signed up for was a status challenge with United MileagePlus using my Alaska MVP Gold status (which I obtained for free and as a surprise right after the Virgin America merger since I previously status-matched to Virgin Elevate Gold).
If you no longer have United status, you can submit for a 90-day status challenge. During the challenge, you get to enjoy the perks of the upgraded status too (I’ve already had a surprise complimentary premier upgrade on a recent United flight), and I find the requirements to be pretty easy to satisfy across the board:
The best part of it all, is your new MileagePlus status is valid through January 2019 for members who earn Premier status through this promotion on or after July 1, 2017!
Delta Medallion Status Match and Challenge
At the beginning of July, I also enrolled in the Delta Gold Medallion challenge. While I normally don’t fly Delta or SkyTeam partners, I was enticed by this match/challenge in particular because if I fulfill the requirements, I’d have the status all the way until January 2019. I do have some upcoming European travel in the pipeline, and this is my excuse to consider flying Delta and/or AirFrance. With all of the fare sales, it should be pretty easy to fulfill this one.
The Delta Medallion match & challenge is currently available for Delta non-elites.
Criteria for participation:
- Member has not received a status match or complimentary Medallion Status in the past three years
- Is currently not a Medallion Member
- Must present both a valid, current elite credential and a statement showing earned elite status from another airline
JetBlue Mosaic Status Match and Challenge
This summer, JetBlue is offering the opportunity to easily-obtain top-tier status with the airline for the rest of 2017 and 2018 if the requirements are met.
Mosaic is a pretty promising program, and I’ve been a member for the last 2 years.. Here’s a glance of the benefits of Mosaic, and then I will highlight my favorites:
It’s a given that I love the free checked bag, seats with more legroom, priority access/early boarding, and earning more points (the free alcoholic drinks are nice too). What I really love is “Be fee freeâ€. What that means is that Mosaic members are never subject to change fees or cancellation fees.
In the airline world, that is HUGE. This benefit (along with the free checked bag) extends to yourself and up to 3 companions on the same reservation. Essentially, you can “same-day change†by purchasing the cheapest seat for the day you want to travel and then calling at midnight on the day of travel to take the flight you really want. Sure, it may be a gamble, but if a seat is available, you can change to the desired flight without paying any fees.
Status Match
If you would like to be considered for the Status Match, you’ll have to provide proof of status in one of the airline loyalty programs listed below. Acceptable proof includes a copy of your statement or current credentials card.
There are two requirements to be accepted into the Status Match:
- You must already be a TrueBlue member. If you are not a TrueBlue member,
sign up for free at jetblue.com/trueblue. - You must be currently enrolled in one of the following airline loyalty programs
with the specified status:- Virgin America®: Elevate® Silver, Elevate® Gold
- Alaska Airlines®: Mileage Plan™; MVP® Gold or MVP® Gold 75k
- American Airlines®: AAdvantage Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro®, AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
- Delta®: SkyMiles Medallion® Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond
- Southwest Airlines®: Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred or Companion Pass
- United®: MileagePlus® Premier® Silver, Gold, Platinum or Premier1K®
Status Challenge
If you don’t have elite status on another carrier, you can still sign up for the TrueBlue Mosaic Challenge!
If you register between now and August 14, 2017 to participate in the Challenge, you will have 90 calendar days to earn 3,750 base flight points and thereby qualify for Mosaic through 2018. What this mean is that instead of having to spend $5,000 in airfare over the course of a full calendar year, with the challenge, you’ll have to spend $1,250 in airfare within the 90-day window from the time you activate your challenge.
A Strategy to Consider
A good strategy would be to wait until you have upcoming flight plans on JetBlue before jumping to activate. I plan on waiting until 8/14/17 to activate mine as I am currently enrolled in a 90-day United and Delta challenge that I intend to fulfill first!
Bottom Line
July is a great time to enroll in an airline status challenge/match because you can enjoy the benefits for over year and a half once the requirements are met. All of these matches are a great way to fast-track to securing elite status, and if you have elite status with even just one competitor airline, you can use that to activate the challenges. I think it’s a great low-risk strategy to consider.
What elite status challenges & matches are you enrolling in this summer?
I matched from SWCP last night and it only took 1 1/2 hours until notification by email. Wow, that was lightning fast!
I have a question. Base points are earned thru paid flights @ 3X per $. Being Mosaic, you get an additional 3X per $. If you have the JetBlue Plus CC, you get 6X per $. That would be 12X per $. Would all 12X per $ be considered base points earned? If so, to qualify for the challenge to extend Mosaic thru 2018, I’d only need to spend $312.50.
Nope.
Base Points are Base Points; 3 base points per $1 spent, period. For this challenge, you gotta spend $1250 to complete the challenge.
In your above described scenario, 9x of the 12x are Bonus Points.
Yes mojo is 100% correct. You have to spend the full $1250. The bonus points described above are just redeemable miles