Searching for an airline standing match? Our information in 2026

Whereas most loyalty applications don’t supply a solution to lengthen elite standing past the present yr, there is a work-around obtainable: By matching your expiring elite standing to a competing loyalty program, you possibly can doubtlessly preserve your advantages by deciding on completely different carriers.

Quite a few airline loyalty applications present the chance to match elite advantages from different applications.

Subsequently, for those who qualify, you possibly can acquire complimentary elite standing with one other airline. Proceed studying to find extra about present airline standing matches and challenges obtainable in 2026.

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What’s an airline standing match?

A standing match usually entails getting an equal or decrease standing tier with a brand new airline primarily based in your present standing with a competing airline’s program.

So, why would airways supply a standing match problem?

If a traveler has demonstrated important loyalty to a selected airline and its program, this conduct could be enticing to a rival airline. Vacationers could think about switching loyalty as a result of they’re sad with their present program or as a result of their circumstances (similar to residence 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 could be a good way to resolve this drawback. Nonetheless, there are some caveats to contemplate:

• Usually, you have 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 companion 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.

Alaska Airways standing match

Alaska will match elite standing from the next applications:

• Aeromexico Rewards
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Delta SkyMiles
• Frontier Miles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Speedy Rewards
• United MileagePlus

You’ll 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 have to earn a selected 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 supply 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 attain elite standing. Complimentary standing and standing earned by a promotion don’t qualify.

In the event you request a standing match by the top of June and fulfill the necessities, your new standing will likely be legitimate till the top 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 provides a standing problem program referred to as Instantaneous Standing Move to elite members of Delta Air Traces, JetBlue, Southwest Airways and United Airways. To take part, you possibly can 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 take care of your momentary standing for a further 4 months, you have 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 part, you possibly can earn Loyalty Factors by 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 applications, together with worldwide applications and most main U.S. applications.

After submitting your data and proof of your present standing, you may be matched to the corresponding Medallion tier for 3 months.

You have to earn the next Medallion Qualification Greenback quantities inside the three-month interval to increase your standing:

• Silver Medallion: 1,250 MQDs
• Gold Medallion: 2,500 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion: 3,750 MQDs

In the event you enroll and full these necessities at any time in 2026, your Delta Air Traces standing will likely be prolonged by Jan. 31, 2028.

Frontier Airways standing match

Frontier Airways will not be presently providing a standing match, however you possibly can register to get notified about updates if it turns into obtainable.

JetBlue standing match

You possibly can match to JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic 1 or 2 from the next applications:

• 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 may want a screenshot or photograph of your most up-to-date boarding cross or flight affirmation electronic mail displaying your standing.

As soon as accepted, you may obtain complimentary Mosaic standing for 3 months.

To increase your standing by the following calendar yr, you have to earn the next variety of Tiles inside 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 easy methods to earn it

Southwest Airways standing match

The Southwest Speedy Rewards A-Record standing match is not open to new candidates, as enrollment was required by Dec. 31, 2025.

Spirit Airways standing match

Spirit Airways will not be presently providing a standing match alternative.

United Airways standing match

United Airways not too long ago up to date its MileagePlus Premier Standing Match Problem promotion for 2026. Elite members of those applications 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 offers a complete listing, which is extra intensive than the one above.

To use, fill out the above type with the required data, together with your MileagePlus account quantity, your electronic mail deal with and a digital copy of your present membership card for the frequent flyer program you might be matching from. As soon as accepted, you may have 90 days to take an “activating flight” operated by United or United Categorical.

Your United standing will likely 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 have 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 Categorical and earn 1,700 Premier qualifying factors.
• Premier Gold: Earn 10 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Categorical and earn 3,400 PQPs.
• Premier Platinum: Earn 15 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Categorical and earn 5,000 PQPs.
• Premier 1K: Earn 20 PQFs on flights operated by United or United Categorical and earn 7,500 PQPs.

You possibly can earn PQPs on flights operated by United or United Categorical or from eligible United Chase card purchases.

Since United standing match challenges are restricted to as soon as each three years per MileagePlus account, consider carefully about whether or not now’s the best time to take part.

Virgin Atlantic standing match

Virgin Atlantic provides a publicly obtainable standing match to members of choose competing applications.

Relying in your present standing tier, you are eligible for an immediate match to Second Tier (Silver) or High Tier (Gold). Nonetheless, those that match to Gold will need to have a future paid (money) flight booked in Higher Class or premium financial system to be eligible. In the meantime, these matching to Silver will need to have a flight booked in any cabin to be accepted for a match.

As soon as your standing is upgraded, you may get pleasure from your standing for 12 months. This is what you have to earn within the 12 months to retain your standing:

• Silver: 400 tier factors
• Gold: 1,000 tier factors

This supply will not be obtainable to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership members who additionally maintain any degree of membership with certainly one of Virgin’s SkyTeam companions (similar to Delta) or those that have taken benefit of a standing match inside the previous 5 years.

Associated: Flexibility is essential: Why I (largely) just like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership adjustments

Backside line

Standing matches and challenges supply a handy solution to get pleasure from perks and financial savings, particularly in case you are relocating to a hub the place your most popular airline does not function (or has a restricted presence). They will also be advantageous for particular journeys or for those who’re prepared to interrupt up along with your present airline due to unwelcome adjustments 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 probably the most opportune time to do it.