Delta elite status match offered to targeted Amex cardholders
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you're an American Express member and currently hold airline elite status, check your inbox.
Delta Air Lines is offering an exclusive Medallion status upgrade opportunity for select American Express cardholders. The targeted offer was emailed to eligible members, and TPG staffers have reported getting the offer with The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express EveryDay Preferred Card.
The information for the Amex Everyday Preferred Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Targeted Delta status match
The limited-time offer lets you match your existing airline status with another airline to one tier higher on Delta. For example, entry-level United Silver status would match to mid-tier Delta Gold.
If you aren't already a Delta SkyMiles member, you need to join first to activate the offer. Additionally, you must provide proof of your elite status with a qualifying airline. Elite status with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest and United Airlines qualifies for the match. Eligible members must enroll in the status match by Aug. 15, 2022.
Unfortunately, targeted members without existing elite status are not able to participate in this offer.
There's a relatively short window to take advantage of your new elite status. It's valid for travel from March 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2022. That said, status can be extended to Jan. 31, 2023, by earning one of the following elite status metrics by the time the promotional status expires:
| Gold Medallion | Platinum Medallion | Diamond Medallion | |
|---|---|---|---|
Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) | 18,000 | 28,000 | 50,000 |
Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQS) | 12 | 22 | 55 |
Members who do not earn the full qualifying requirements will be able to keep a lower status tier if they meet the requirements for said status tier. For example, a United Premier 1K member who matches to Diamond Medallion but only flies 25 segments will keep Platinum Medallion status through next January.
Delta points out that only tickets operated or marketed by Delta and Delta Connection count toward this status match. Further, the terms note that award tickets do not count toward requalification, despite these tickets earning elite status metrics through 2022.
It's worth noting that Diamond and Platinum Choice Benefits are only awarded once the member meets the requirements to extend their Delta elite status.
This promotional status match differs from Delta's normal status match as it offers members a higher status tier and allows for a match to Diamond Medallion. There is also no Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement for this match.
Bottom line
We highly recommend taking advantage of this status match if you're eligible for it. Even if you don't plan to requalify past the promotional period, the benefits could come in handy if you find yourself booking a one-off Delta flight.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.
Feature photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.