The Best Time to Status Match Each Airline

Most U.S. airlines offer the ability to match a competitor's elite status to that airline's loyalty program. The rationale behind this move is that elite-status travelers must be pretty valuable flyers if they have earned elite status with another airline. Offering free airline elite status is a cheap way of attracting valuable patrons.

These elite status match offers are a win for travelers too. They allow flyers to switch allegiance without having to start from scratch or lose the elite status perks they've already earned.

When's the best time to match status across airline loyalty programs? Every airline loyalty program has different status match policies. For most, the optimal application window is after July 1 or when you have a lot of travel coming up.

July is the best time to start an Alaska Mileage Plan status match. That's because you have the chance to enjoy elite status for almost one-and-a-half years by beginning an elite status match in July. However, you might only get six months of elite status if you start a challenge in June.

Here's how it works. Alaska lets flyers match airline elite status from select other North American airlines to Mileage Plan. Your elite status level with Alaska depends on your status with a qualifying airline.

Alaska will initially grant you this Mileage Plan elite status for 90 days. During that period, you'll need to fly a set number of miles on Alaska Airlines to extend your elite status:

• MVP status: Fly 5,000 miles.

• MVP Gold status: Fly 10,000 miles.

• MVP Gold 75K status: Fly 20,000 miles.

Alaska will extend your elite status until at least the end of the year if you meet this challenge. But here's where the timing aspect comes in. If you begin your elite status match from January through June, Alaska will only extend your elite status through the end of the current year. However, matches started from July through December are extended through the end of the following year.

So, for example, say you match your airline elite status on June 30, 2025. You'll initially get 90 days of elite status — giving you access through Sept. 28. If you meet the challenge, Alaska will only extend your Mileage Plan elite status through Dec. 31, 2025. However, if you start the status match on July 1, 2025, and meet the challenge, you may extend your status through Dec. 31, 2026.

You can only complete a status match with Alaska Airlines one time, so choose your timing wisely.

» Learn more: How to earn miles with Alaska Airlines

You can apply for an American Airlines status match online. You'll earn four months of matched status. From then on, you'll have to meet a Loyalty Point goal every four months to be able to extend your status for another four months. Once you meet all three Loyalty Point goals, you’ll qualify for status for the rest of the membership year. Because of this, earlier in the year is the best time to get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of the status match.

That said, it’s best to request an American Airlines status match when you have a lot of flying coming with the airline, because your status beyond the first four months depends on how much you fly within that time:

• AAdvantage Gold: earn 13,000 Loyalty Points. 

• AAdvantage Platinum: earn 25,000 Loyalty Points. 

• AAdvantage Platinum Pro: earn 42,000 Loyalty Points. 

• AAdvantage Executive Platinum: earn 67,000 Loyalty Points. 

You can request an American Airlines status match once every two years.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines elite status

Early in the year is the best time to start a Delta elite status match. Like Alaska, Delta offers complimentary elite status for a trial period. In Delta's case, you'll get Medallion elite status for three months. You can then meet an elite status challenge to extend that status for longer.

The timing is all about when you sign up for the elite status match. Regardless of when you enroll during the calendar year, you can keep status through the end of the following Medallion qualification year.

For example, you’ll earn Medallion elite status through Jan. 31, 2027, if you enroll any time from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. So the earlier in the year you enroll, the better. With this status match, you can extend your status for over two full years.

To extend your initial status past 90 days, you’ll need to earn:

• Silver Medallion: $1,250 MQDs

• Gold Medallion: $2,500 MQDs

• Platinum Medallion: $3,750 MQDs

You can’t earn a level higher than your original match. So you couldn’t, say, match to Gold Medallion status and earn $3,750 MQDs to earn Platinum Medallion.

Delta is also more strict and lenient in some ways with its status match. You cannot match to Delta’s highest elite tier, Diamond Medallion, through a status match. But, Delta and partner flights count toward the MQD requirement (just not basic economy tickets). Delta also extends matching opportunities from a number of international airlines, including Air New Zealand, British Airways, Qantas and many others.

You’re not eligible to apply for a Delta status match if you enrolled, matched or earned Medallion status through the program between 2022 and 2025.

» Learn more: Benefits of Delta Air Lines credit cards

The best time to complete a Southwest Rapid Rewards elite status match is right before you're about to fly Southwest. That's because Southwest only grants A-List airline elite status for 90 days. However, Southwest will extend your elite status for an additional 12 months if you book and fly six one-way flights — or three round trips — during those 90 days.

When figuring out the best time to submit your Southwest status match, factor in that Southwest may take up to 12 business days to verify your status match. And you'll need to wait to book and fly your flights until after Southwest confirms the match.

The program is designed to attract new flyers, so you can't be a current A-List elite status member when you request the airline status match. Additionally, this Southwest status match isn't an option for extending an expiring A-List status. And you can't take advantage of this elite status match if you've received promotional A-List status in the past 12 months.

» Learn more: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

Consider starting a United Premier elite status match between mid-March and late June — depending on how much you plan to fly United. You can earn United Premier elite status for an extra year by getting your timing right. But starting a United status match too early can make you miss an entire year of elite status.

As with other airlines, United offers status match applicants temporary elite status. Currently, United offers Premier Silver, Premier Gold or Premium Platinum elite status for 120 days. The elite status level you receive depends on your current elite status with a qualifying airline.

By meeting set flying requirements on United during these 120 days, United will extend your elite status through at least the end of the current year:

• Premier Silver: Fly 5 PQF and earn 1,700 PQP.

• Premier Gold: Fly 10 PQF and earn 3,400 PQP.

• Premier Platinum: Fly 15 PQF and earn 5,000 PQP.

• Premier 1K: Fly 20 PQF and earn 7,500 PQP.

However, timing is critical. For example, if you complete the challenge before June 30, you'll only get elite status through the end of that year. But you'll earn Premier elite status through the end of the following qualification year if you complete the challenge on or after July 1. That means if you enroll after July 1, 2025, and meet the requirements, you can keep your status through the end of January 2027.

You'll want to be precise about when you submit your United elite status match request — and when you meet the flying requirements. Consider applying for a United status match in mid-March if you think it will take you all 120 days to meet the challenge. But you can start the challenge as late as June if you have lots of expensive travel soon after. Make sure you don't meet the requirements until July 1 or later.

The offer isn’t valid if you’ve participated in a status match in the last three years or received a status exception within the previous five years.

» Learn more: The best United Airlines credit card offers

The best time to match your airline elite status depends on which loyalty program you're trying to match. But, for some reason, many optimal airline elite status matches center around July 1.

Match your airline elite status to Alaska after July 1 for the opportunity to earn elite status for the most extended period. Meanwhile, apply for a United elite status match between March and June, and plan to meet the status challenge requirement after July 1. For Delta, earlier in the year is best.

For American and Southwest, it's about when you will fly and how often.