Whereas most loyalty packages don’t provide a approach to prolong elite standing past the present yr, there is a work-around out there: By matching your expiring elite standing to a competing loyalty program, you’ll be able to probably keep your advantages by choosing totally different carriers.
Quite a few airline loyalty packages present the chance to match elite advantages from different packages.
Subsequently, if you happen to qualify, you’ll be able to acquire complimentary elite standing with one other airline. Proceed studying to find extra about present airline standing matches and challenges out there in 2026.
Associated: Like it or depart it: TPG lead author Katie Genter’s airline and resort elite standing plans for 2026
What’s an airline standing match?
A standing match sometimes entails getting an equal or decrease standing tier with a brand new airline primarily based in your current standing with a competing airline’s program.
So, why would airways provide a standing match problem?
If a traveler has demonstrated vital loyalty to a selected airline and its program, this habits might be enticing to a rival airline. Vacationers might take into account switching loyalty as a result of they’re sad with their current program or as a result of their circumstances (equivalent to dwelling or job location) have modified.
If you wish to check out one other program however do not fancy ranging from scratch, a standing match or problem might be an effective way to resolve this drawback. Nevertheless, there are some caveats to think about:
- Usually, you will need to present a photograph of your membership card and a mileage assertion to confirm your standing.
- Keep away from altering or falsifying your credentials, as this may end up in extreme penalties, together with account suspension.
- Actions from some cobranded bank cards or associate airline tickets could also be excluded from problem actions.
- Standing matches and challenges are sometimes restricted to as soon as per lifetime, per account, though some carriers have exceptions.
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Alaska Airways standing match
Alaska will match elite standing from the next packages:
- Aeromexico Rewards
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Delta SkyMiles
- Frontier Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
You can be granted the corresponding standing degree within the Atmos Rewards program for a interval of 90 days. To retain this standing past the preliminary interval, you will need to earn a particular variety of base factors on flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airways or Hawaiian Airways, relying on the tier to which you might be matched:
- Atmos Rewards Silver: 5,000 base factors
- Atmos Rewards Gold: 10,000 base factors
- Atmos Rewards Platinum: 20,000 base factors
Sadly, the Atmos Rewards Titanium tier doesn’t provide a standing match alternative.
To submit a request, go to the airline’s standing match web page and supply a screenshot of your present mileage assertion displaying your identify, standing and miles earned this yr or flown within the prior yr to realize elite standing. Complimentary standing and standing earned by means of a promotion don’t qualify.
When you request a standing match by the tip of June and fulfill the necessities, your new standing shall be legitimate till the tip of the calendar yr. Subsequently, making use of for it in July or August of this yr would maximize the size.
American Airways standing match
American Airways affords a standing problem program known as On the spot Standing Cross to elite members of Delta Air Traces, JetBlue, Southwest Airways and United Airways. To take part, you’ll be able to apply on American’s web site and be matched to one of many following American Airways AAdvantage tiers: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Professional or Government Platinum. Availability depends upon which airline or standing you are coming from. (For instance, Southwest and JetBlue don’t map into AAdvantage Government Platinum.)
This system consists of three phases, every lasting 4 months. Upon registration, you’ll instantly get pleasure from the advantages of the chosen standing tier. To keep up your non permanent standing for an extra 4 months, you will need to earn a prorated variety of Loyalty Factors, which is roughly a 3rd of the annual requirement:
- AAdvantage Gold: 13,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum: 25,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum Professional: 42,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Government Platinum: 67,000 Loyalty Factors
Throughout every section, you’ll be able to earn Loyalty Factors by means of qualifying actions with American, its companions and cobranded bank card spending. These actions rely towards your standing problem.
Delta Air Traces standing match
Delta SkyMiles is presently providing a standing match, as much as Platinum Medallion, to elite members of varied airline packages, together with worldwide packages and most main U.S. packages.
After submitting your data and proof of your present standing, you will be matched to the corresponding Medallion tier for 3 months.
You need to earn the next Medallion Qualification Greenback quantities throughout the three-month interval to increase your standing:
- Silver Medallion: 1,250 MQDs
- Gold Medallion: 2,500 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion: 3,750 MQDs
When you enroll and full these necessities at any time in 2026, your Delta Air Traces standing shall be prolonged by means of Jan. 31, 2028.
Frontier Airways standing match
Frontier Airways just isn’t presently providing a standing match, however you’ll be able to register to get notified about updates if it turns into out there.
JetBlue standing match
You’ll be able to match to JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic 1 or 2 from the next packages:
- Alaska Airways Atmos Rewards
- American Airways AAdvantage
- British Airways Membership
- Delta SkyMiles
- Free Spirit
- Frontier Miles
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
To use, submit a screenshot of your frequent flyer program profile that clearly shows your full identify and proof of standing. If matching to Mosaic 2, you will want a screenshot or photograph of your most up-to-date boarding go or flight affirmation electronic mail displaying your standing.
As soon as accredited, you will obtain complimentary Mosaic standing for 3 months.
To increase your standing by means of the subsequent calendar yr, you will need to earn the next variety of Tiles throughout the three-month promotional standing interval:
- 10 Tiles to maintain Mosaic 1
- 25 Tiles to maintain Mosaic 2
- 40 Tiles to earn Mosaic 3
Associated: JetBlue Mosaic elite standing: What it’s and methods to earn it
Southwest Airways standing match
The Southwest Speedy Rewards A-Listing standing match is not open to new candidates, as enrollment was required by Dec. 31, 2025.
Spirit Airways standing match
Spirit Airways just isn’t presently providing a standing match alternative.
United Airways standing match
United Airways lately up to date its MileagePlus Premier Standing Match Problem promotion for 2026. Elite members of those packages have till June 30 to register to obtain complimentary United MileagePlus standing for 120 days:
- Alaska Airways Atmos Rewards
- American Airways AAdvantage
- Delta SkyMiles
- Frontier Miles
- Southwest Speedy Rewards
- British Airways Membership
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
In keeping with United’s web site, that is solely a partial listing. The Premier Standing Match Problem type gives a complete listing, which is extra in depth than the one above.
To use, fill out the above type with the required data, together with your MileagePlus account quantity, your electronic mail tackle and a digital copy of your present membership card for the frequent flyer program you might be matching from. As soon as accredited, you will have 90 days to take an “activating flight” operated by United or United Specific.
Your United standing shall be upgraded to Premier Silver, Premier Gold or Premier Platinum inside 5 to seven enterprise days after your activating flight. You’ll maintain this standing for 120 days, throughout which era you will need to full the next to increase the matched standing for the rest of the 2026 program yr:
- Premier Silver: Earn 5 Premier qualifying flights on flights operated by United or United Specific and earn 1,700 Premier qualifying factors.
- Premier Gold: Earn 10 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Specific and earn 3,400 PQPs.
- Premier Platinum: Earn 15 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Specific and earn 5,000 PQPs.
- Premier 1K: Earn 20 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Specific and earn 7,500 PQPs.
You’ll be able to earn PQPs on flights operated by United or United Specific or from eligible United Chase card purchases.
Since United standing match challenges are restricted to as soon as each three years per MileagePlus account, think twice about whether or not now could be the fitting time to take part.
Virgin Atlantic standing match
Virgin Atlantic affords a publicly out there standing match to members of choose competing packages.
Relying in your current standing tier, you are eligible for an prompt match to Second Tier (Silver) or Prime Tier (Gold). Nevertheless, those that match to Gold will need to have a future paid (money) flight booked in Higher Class or premium economic system to be eligible. In the meantime, these matching to Silver will need to have a flight booked in any cabin to be accredited for a match.
As soon as your standing is upgraded, you will get pleasure from your standing for 12 months. Here is what you will need to earn within the 12 months to retain your standing:
- Silver: 400 tier factors
- Gold: 1,000 tier factors
This provide just isn’t out there to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership members who additionally maintain any degree of membership with one in every of Virgin’s SkyTeam companions (equivalent to Delta) or those that have taken benefit of a standing match throughout the previous 5 years.
Associated: Flexibility is vital: Why I (largely) just like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership modifications
Backside line
Standing matches and challenges provide a handy approach to get pleasure from perks and financial savings, particularly if you’re relocating to a hub the place your most popular airline would not function (or has a restricted presence). They can be advantageous for particular journeys or if you happen to’re prepared to interrupt up along with your current airline due to unwelcome modifications to its program.
Earlier than making use of for a standing match or problem, it is necessary to know the phrases and situations and to decide on essentially the most opportune time to do it.
