Successfully completing a status challenge: AA Executive Platinum to Delta Platinum
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I've been a major lifelong fan of American Airlines. I joined the AAdvantage program way back in 1997, and I've been an executive platinum for several years now. As The Points Guy has reported, the AAdvantage program has gone through a few devaluations, and airline operations have had some challenges in the past few years.
Overall, though, I've been treated very well by American Airlines and despite bumps in the road, I'd never thought about switching carriers.
But after AA instituted a new spend requirement of $15,000 for 2019 that could no longer be — at least partially — mitigated with credit card spend, I knew I could no longer swing Executive Platinum status.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips!
You see, I used to be able to take off $6,000 of the former $12,000 AA spend requirement by putting all my spending on the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard. (You can get this card only by upgrading from the Barclays Red Aviator Card.)
Last year, I put $50,000 on the card, and got $6,000 in EQD's. But this year, I only got $3,000 in EQDs after spending that same $50,000, as Barclays had cut its EQD benefit in half. (I still got 10,000 in EQMs toward status, which was nice.)
I knew I was unlikely to make EP again.
I figured if I was going to be a midlevel status, I might as well try something new. That along with AA's recent travails got me curious about checking out the competition. So this summer, I signed up for a Delta Air Lines status challenge.
Thankfully, friend and Delta expert Rene de Lambert helped me through the process. Also instrumental was the TPG guide to status matches and challenges. TPG values Delta Platinum status as worth about $3,865 so it's definitely worth the effort.
Delta has an official SkyMiles Medallion Status Challenge landing page where you can upload your proof of current status and request to begin a challenge. I knew to do it after July 1, 2019, to get status through January 31, 2021. That's a year and a half of status!
Related: What is Delta elite status worth in 2019?
I sent them a picture of my AA card showing I held Exec Platinum status via the website, and got a confirmation that my request was received. It took 2 weeks, but I eventually got word via email that I was enrolled. I was half hoping they would offer me a challenge to Diamond, but no such luck.
That same day my new Platinum status showed up in my Delta account.
Now came the tricky part: I had to earn 18,750 MQMs in 90 days plus $2,250 dollars in MQDs. There is a way around that hefty spend requirement, but it's not easy. If you spend $25,000 on the Delta Gold or Platinum card or $30,000 on the Delta Reserve card — depending on which card you have — you can get a spend waiver for Silver, Gold or Platinum status. (To get the waiver for Delta Diamond status you'd have to put $250,000 in spend on the card!).
I knew about the workaround and had several months of payments to put on a card, so the same day I applied for the challenge I also opened the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express. I used my new Reserve card to pay my bills and successfully completed the $30,000 in spending, and hit the MQD requirement.
Next, I need to fly ... a lot.
One great way to earn lots of Delta MQMs (and MQDs) is by flying partner airlines in business class. I booked an Aeromexico business class vacation from New York-JFK to Guatemala City (GUA) via Mexico City (MEX) on Expedia that included a hotel for two nights in Guatemala City for just over $1,000 dollars. I got 8,238 MQMs and $2,196 in EQDs for the journey. That one trip nearly got the challenge done in EQDs and got me well on my way to the EQM requirement.
Fortunately, I had a few more domestic trips including a roundtrip to San Francisco, and another to Butte, Montana that got me well over the top and voilà. Platinum status until 2021.
I'll report back on how flying Delta compares to American Airlines. In any case, I did end up earning Platinum Pro on AA so it should be a fun year.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees