Status challenge (2026): airline & hotel challenges explained.
A status challenge gives you elite status for a trial window, then asks you to fly, stay or spend enough to keep it. A status match grants status because you already hold it elsewhere; many programmes combine the two. This page covers which programmes still offer a challenge, how long each runs and what it takes.
Terms verified October 13, 2026
Status challenge vs status match vs fast track
- Status match
- You show elite status at one programme and another grants a comparable tier. Often temporary, sometimes with no further requirement.
- Status challenge
- You receive status for a trial window and must hit a flying, stay or spend target to keep it. Doesn't always require proof of status elsewhere.
- Fast track
- A shortened path to a tier, usually tied to a partner, employer, credit card or invitation, with a lower target than the standard route.
In practice the labels overlap: Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, Hilton, and Wyndham each use a status match to start the trial and a challenge to keep it. Browse all airline matches, all hotel matches or hotel to airline matches.
Status challenges compared
| Programme | Challenge? | Duration | Requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlines | ||||
| Delta SkyMiles | Yes (match + earn) | 90 days | Earn MQDs on Delta (about $1,250 for the lowest tier) | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| United MileagePlus | Limited (offered in windows) | 120 days (standard offer) | PQF + PQP on United (Silver reported as 5 PQF / 1,700 PQP) | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| American AAdvantage | Limited (Instant Status Pass) | 4 months | Loyalty Points goal (about 13,000 for Gold) | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | Yes (match + earn) | 90 days | 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 base points on Alaska or Hawaiian | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| JetBlue TrueBlue (Mosaic) | No standing challenge | n/a | None; Mosaic is earned with tiles | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Limited (match + earn, ends Dec 30) | 120 days | 3 round trips or 11,500 points for A-List | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Hotels | ||||
| Hilton Honors | Yes (match + stay) | 90 days | 6 nights for Gold; 12 for Diamond | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Marriott Bonvoy | No published public challenge | n/a (partner fast tracks: 6 months) | No public terms; partner fast tracks need about 10 nights | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| World of Hyatt | Limited (Aeroplan-linked) | 90 days | 4 / 10 / 20 nights (Aeroplan-linked) | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| IHG One Rewards | No standing public challenge | Varies | Offer-specific nights, usually by invitation | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Wyndham Rewards | Unclear (matches may be paused) | 90 days | Reported 4 nights Platinum / 10 Diamond; verify | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Choice Privileges | Match only, no challenge | n/a | None; one lifetime match up to Platinum | Jump to terms · Status match page |
| Accor ALL | No standing public challenge | Varies | First eligible stay credits status nights | Jump to terms |
| Best Western Rewards | Match only, no challenge | n/a | None; match by email with proof | Jump to terms · Status match page |
Airline status challenges
Delta SkyMiles status challenge
Challenge availableDelta's Medallion Status Match Challenge gives you complimentary Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion status based on elite status at another airline, then makes you earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on Delta to keep it.
- Duration
- 90 days of complimentary status
- Tiers you can aim for
- Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion (Diamond is not matched)
- What you need to do
- MQDs earned inside the 90-day window. Delta's page lists $1,250 MQDs for the lowest tier and higher amounts for higher tiers; only MQDs earned after the upgrade count. Card spend that earns MQDs counts, but MQD HeadStart does not.
- How to start
- Apply on Delta's Status Match Challenge page while logged in to your SkyMiles account.
- How long status lasts
- Earned extensions currently run through January 31, 2028; the end date moves with the Medallion year, so re-check it.
How it works
- Apply through delta.com with proof of your status at another airline on Delta's participating list.
- Delta reviews the documents and, if approved, upgrades your account to the matched Medallion tier.
- Fly Delta during the trial and earn the required MQDs. At least one Delta-marketed flight above Basic Economy is required.
- If you reach the MQD target inside the window, the status is extended; if not, it expires.
Watch out for
- You must have been a SkyMiles member for at least 30 days and have flown a Delta-marketed flight above Basic Economy in the past three years.
- Complimentary, temporary or promotional status at another airline is not eligible.
- If you fall short of your matched tier you may still keep a lower tier whose requirement you meet.
United MileagePlus status challenge
Limited / time-boundUnited's Premier Status Match Challenge grants Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum or 1K for a trial period based on elite status at another airline, then requires a set number of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) to keep it. It is run as a time-limited promotion rather than a permanent benefit.
- Duration
- 120 days in the standard offer; shorter limited-time variants exist
- Tiers you can aim for
- Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum or 1K (Global Services is invitation-only)
- What you need to do
- A tier-specific number of PQF and PQP on United or United Express. Premier Silver is widely reported as 5 PQF and 1,700 PQP; higher tiers require more flights and points.
- How to start
- Use the Premier Status Match page on united.com; you need a MileagePlus account.
How it works
- Apply on United's status match page with proof of status at another airline.
- Once approved, take an activating flight on United to switch the matched status on.
- During the trial, fly United or United Express and earn the PQF and PQP your matched tier requires.
- Hit both numbers before the trial ends to extend the status; miss either and it expires.
Watch out for
- The 2026 challenge ran in application windows and some versions have closed. Check whether United's page is accepting applications today.
- United's own page confirms a 2026 challenge exists; the Silver PQF/PQP figures come from guide sites that quote the terms, so confirm them on United's page.
- Members who used a United status match recently, or who hold trial or temporary status at the other airline, are generally excluded. Read the current eligibility terms.
- Matched status cannot be used to reach a higher tier than the one you were matched to through the offer.
American AAdvantage status challenge
Limited / time-boundAmerican's version of a challenge is the Instant Status Pass: complimentary AAdvantage status for a four-month phase, kept only if you reach a Loyalty Points goal. American also runs a separate status match that can feed into it.
- Duration
- 4 months of complimentary status
- Tiers you can aim for
- Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum
- What you need to do
- A Loyalty Points goal by the end of the four-month phase. American's status match page lists 13,000 (Gold), 25,000 (Platinum), 42,000 (Platinum Pro) and 67,000 (Executive Platinum) for the first four months, but another American page for a corporate pass lists different goals, so confirm the goal shown at registration.
- How to start
- aa.com AAdvantage status match page; the Instant Status Pass terms are on a separate aa.com page.
- If you already hold status
- Members with equal or higher status, or with matched, transferred, lifetime or promotional status, are not eligible.
- Attempt limit
- A member who joins an Instant Status Pass promotion cannot join another for two years.
- How long status lasts
- Reaching the Loyalty Points goal keeps status into the next AAdvantage membership year.
How it works
- Request a status match on aa.com with screenshots of your status at Delta, United, JetBlue or Southwest, or register for an Instant Status Pass promotion you are eligible for.
- American reviews the request (allow at least four weeks) and, if approved, starts the complimentary status on the approval date.
- Earn Loyalty Points after approval; points earned before registration do not count.
- Reach the goal by the end of the phase to keep status into the next AAdvantage membership year.
Watch out for
- American can change or end the promotion at any time, and it is not a standing public challenge.
- For comparison, American kept its standard AAdvantage Loyalty Point thresholds unchanged for 2026: Gold 40,000, Platinum 75,000, Platinum Pro 125,000 and Executive Platinum 200,000.
Alaska Atmos Rewards status challenge
Challenge availableAtmos Rewards status match gives you equivalent Atmos Silver, Gold or Platinum status for 90 days if you already hold elite status at another airline, then asks you to earn base points on Alaska or Hawaiian flights to keep it. Employees of selected companies can also use an employer fast track with a longer window.
- Duration
- 90 days (employer fast-track offers run 180 days)
- Tiers you can aim for
- Atmos Silver, Gold or Platinum
- What you need to do
- Base points on Alaska or Hawaiian flights in the 90 days: 5,000 to keep Silver, 10,000 for Gold, 20,000 for Platinum. Codeshares, global partner flights, award travel, bonus points and Saver (X) fares do not count.
- How to start
- Alaska's Atmos Rewards Status Match page; employees of listed companies use the company fast-track page.
- If you already hold status
- Platinum and Titanium members are not eligible.
- How long status lasts
- A match made before June 30 carries status through the end of that calendar year; one made July 1 to December 31 carries through the end of the following year, if you meet the flight requirement.
How it works
- Submit proof of earned elite status at another airline through Alaska's status match page.
- Alaska verifies it (allow up to four weeks) and grants the matched Atmos tier for 90 days.
- Earn base points on Alaska or Hawaiian flights inside the 90 days.
- Reach the target and the status carries on; the end date depends on when you matched.
Watch out for
- Only status earned by flying at the other airline qualifies, not status from credit cards, transferred points or promotions.
- Atmos switched tiers to status points in 2026, and the status match page still quotes base points, so check the current figures before relying on them.
- Residents of the United States and Canada only.
JetBlue TrueBlue (Mosaic) status challenge
No standing challengeJetBlue does not currently publish a Mosaic status challenge. The last public match-and-challenge we could find was a 2017 promotion that has long since closed, and Mosaic today is earned through tiles.
- Duration
- Not applicable
- Tiers you can aim for
- Mosaic 1 to 4 through tiles
- What you need to do
- No challenge requirement. Standard qualification uses tiles.
- How to start
- Check JetBlue's TrueBlue Mosaic page for any current offer.
How it works
- JetBlue's 2017 Mosaic match required 3,750 base points within 90 days to keep status. That offer is closed and is shown only for context.
- Today you reach Mosaic by collecting tiles (50 for Mosaic 1, 100 for Mosaic 2, 150 for Mosaic 3, 250 for Mosaic 4).
Watch out for
- We found no active JetBlue status challenge, but JetBlue can run promotions without much notice. Check jetblue.com before assuming nothing is available.
- JetBlue has matched Southwest A-List status in a recent promotion, which is a match rather than a points challenge; verify any current match terms on JetBlue's site.
- Mosaic status and benefits now run through January 31 every year.
Southwest Rapid Rewards status challenge
Limited / time-boundSouthwest has no standing A-List challenge, but its status match gives matching A-List or A-List Preferred for 120 days and lets you extend it for 12 months by flying or earning tier qualifying points.
- Duration
- 120 days of promotional status
- Tiers you can aim for
- A-List or A-List Preferred
- What you need to do
- A-List: three round trips (or six one-way flights) on Southwest or 11,500 tier qualifying points. A-List Preferred: six round trips or 23,000 tier qualifying points.
- How to start
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match page; registration closes December 30, 2026.
- Attempt limit
- One enrolment per 12-month period.
How it works
- Register on Southwest's status match page with proof of eligible elite status at a listed airline.
- You receive promotional A-List or A-List Preferred for 120 days.
- Fly Southwest or earn tier qualifying points inside the window to extend the status for 12 months.
Watch out for
- A separate corporate status match has its own, lower extension requirement and closes December 31, 2026.
- The only true A-List challenge we found was a 2017 offer that has expired.
Hotel status challenges
Hilton Honors status challenge
Challenge availableHilton's status match gives you Gold for 90 days if you show proof of stays with a competitor's loyalty program, and works as a challenge because you must stay to keep it, with a path to Diamond.
- Duration
- 90 days
- Tiers you can aim for
- Gold, with a path to Diamond
- What you need to do
- 6 nights to keep Gold; 12 nights in the 90 days for Diamond.
- How to start
- Hilton Help Center status match benefit page; you must be logged in to submit.
- If you already hold status
- Only members at Base or Silver are processed; Gold and Diamond members are not.
- Attempt limit
- Available once, to members who have not used it before.
How it works
- Log in to your Hilton Honors account and submit your competitor program and proof of a stay in the past 24 months.
- Once approved, your account is upgraded to Gold for 90 days.
- Stay a minimum of six nights in the 90 days to keep Gold.
- Stay six more nights (12 in total) in the same 90 days to be upgraded to Diamond.
Watch out for
- For comparison, Hilton's 2026 standard thresholds are 25 nights for Gold and 50 nights for Diamond.
Marriott Bonvoy status challenge
No standing challengeWe could not find a public, standing Marriott Bonvoy status challenge on Marriott's own pages. Marriott does run partner fast tracks, where members of certain airline programmes can earn Bonvoy status by staying a set number of nights.
- Duration
- Six months in the partner fast tracks we found
- Tiers you can aim for
- Partner dependent (often Silver, Gold or Platinum)
- What you need to do
- Partner-specific qualifying nights, for example 10 nights for Platinum on the Cathay and KrisFlyer pages.
- How to start
- Register through the relevant partner page on Marriott's travel-partner site.
How it works
- Marriott's partner pages describe fast tracks with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Japan Airlines and Cathay.
- {"Example (KrisFlyer)"=>"Bonvoy Gold members can aim for Platinum with 10 qualifying nights within six months of registering."}
- Award stays, free nights and Elite Night Credits do not count toward these partner challenges.
Watch out for
- Travel blogs describe an unadvertised challenge handled by Marriott member services (figures quoted include 8 paid nights for Gold and 16 for Platinum within about 90 days). Marriott publishes no terms for it, so we cannot verify it.
- Partner fast tracks are tied to specific airline programmes and can close or change; check the partner page for current terms.
World of Hyatt status challenge
Limited / time-boundWorld of Hyatt's published status challenge is tied to Air Canada Aeroplan. Eligible Aeroplan Elite members and premium Aeroplan cardholders get a 90-day challenge to reach Discoverist, Explorist or Globalist. We found no standing public challenge for other members.
- Duration
- 90 days
- Tiers you can aim for
- Discoverist, Explorist or Globalist
- What you need to do
- 4 eligible nights for Discoverist, 10 for Explorist, 20 for Globalist.
- How to start
- Hyatt's Aeroplan partnership page.
- Attempt limit
- Premium Aeroplan cardholders get two challenge attempts per calendar year; other eligible members get an annual challenge.
How it works
- Link your World of Hyatt and Aeroplan accounts and register for the challenge.
- Eligible members who hold no Hyatt status or hold Discoverist get temporary Explorist status for the 90-day challenge.
- Complete the nights below inside the 90 days to earn the status.
- Earned status lasts for the rest of the registration year plus the following 14 months.
Watch out for
- Hyatt says Hyatt Explorists and Globalists will be able to challenge for Aeroplan Elite status later in 2026; availability of that reverse direction is unconfirmed.
- For comparison, standard Hyatt tiers need 10 nights (Discoverist), 30 (Explorist) or 60 (Globalist) per calendar year.
IHG One Rewards status challenge
No standing challengeIHG has no standing public status challenge that we could find. It runs time-limited stay offers and invitation-only corporate fast tracks.
- Duration
- Varies by promotion
- Tiers you can aim for
- Gold, Platinum or Diamond depending on the offer
- What you need to do
- Promotion-specific qualifying nights (see the offer you were invited to).
- How to start
- Check your IHG account and email for offers you are eligible for.
How it works
- {"IHG's current fast track through 2027 is for members of an invited corporate group"=>"2 nights for Gold or 5 nights for Platinum."}
- A public 8-night Diamond offer ran from January 22 to March 8, 2026 and has closed.
Watch out for
- You need an active IHG One Rewards account and, for the corporate fast track, membership of an invited group.
- Standard Platinum and Diamond status is earned through qualifying nights or points in a calendar year.
Wyndham Rewards status challenge
Limited / time-boundWyndham's status match grants Platinum or Diamond for 90 days based on a competitor's tier, and you complete qualifying nights to keep it. Wyndham's landing page has said new matches are not being offered, so check availability first.
- Duration
- 90 days
- Tiers you can aim for
- Platinum or Diamond
- What you need to do
- Wyndham pages disagree: 4 nights for Platinum and 10 for Diamond in the newest terms we found, 7 and 14 on older pages.
- How to start
- Wyndham's status match page, if it is currently accepting requests.
How it works
- Submit proof of your status at an eligible hotel programme such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards or World of Hyatt.
- If approved, the matched level lasts 90 days from the verification email.
- Complete the qualifying nights in the window to keep it through December 31 of the following calendar year.
Watch out for
- Wyndham's own pages conflict on availability and on the number of nights, so we cannot confirm current terms.
- Matched members do not get the points bonus that earned Platinum and Diamond members get.
- Wyndham also has a separate Caesars Rewards status match.
Choice Privileges status challenge
No standing challengeChoice Privileges offers a one-time elite status match and no stay-to-keep challenge that we could find. The match tops out at Platinum.
- Duration
- No trial window that we could find
- Tiers you can aim for
- Up to Platinum
- What you need to do
- No challenge requirement found; proof of status is the entry ticket.
- How to start
- Choice Privileges status match page.
- Attempt limit
- One status match per member, per lifetime.
- How long status lasts
- A match made January to June is valid for the current year; July to December, the current and following year.
How it works
- Provide proof of current elite status with another hotel programme.
- Choice decides, at its discretion, whether to match and at which level.
Watch out for
- Open to existing members in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico.
- Diamond is not matched.
Accor ALL status challenge
No standing challengeWe found no standing public status match or challenge from Accor ALL. It does run fast-track offers that credit status nights after your first eligible stay, usually for partners, employers or invited members.
- Duration
- Varies by offer
- Tiers you can aim for
- Silver, Gold or Platinum depending on the offer
- What you need to do
- A first eligible stay; no repeated stay target.
- How to start
- Look for fast-track offers via your employer, partner programme or ALL account.
How it works
- Fast-track offers credit a one-time block of status nights after your first stay at a participating hotel.
- Credits depend on your current tier. The offers we found credit 5, 10 or 15 nights for Classic, Silver and Gold members.
Watch out for
- These are offers with their own eligibility, not a public challenge. Terms vary and some pages we found were old.
- Standard thresholds for comparison: Silver 10 nights, Gold 30, Platinum 60.
Best Western Rewards status challenge
No standing challengeBest Western matches elite tiers from a competing hotel programme on request. We found no stay challenge attached to it.
- Duration
- Not stated in the terms we found
- Tiers you can aim for
- Gold, Platinum or Diamond (set by Best Western)
- What you need to do
- No stay requirement found; proof of status must be valid.
- How to start
- Best Western Rewards status match page.
How it works
- Email the details of your competitor elite status plus proof to Best Western's status match address.
- Best Western compares the qualifying nights each programme requires to pick your matching tier.
Watch out for
- Only the tier is matched, not the competitor's points balance.
- Requests without valid proof are not processed.
Should I do a status match or a status challenge?
- You hold status with a competitor: apply for a match first. 6 of the 14 programmes above start with one (Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, Hilton, and Wyndham), and the challenge part is the activity you do to keep it.
- You have no status anywhere: look for a pure challenge or fast track. Few programmes publish one: JetBlue, Marriott, IHG, Choice, Accor, and Best Western have no standing challenge, so check their entries above before you plan around it.
- Your trial window is shorter than your travel plans: check how much you can realistically fly or stay in about 90 to 120 days. If the target is out of reach, a match without a challenge, or standard qualification, may suit you better.
- You already hold status at the programme: exclusions vary, so a challenge may not be available. American AAdvantage: Members with equal or higher status, or with matched, transferred, lifetime or promotional status, are not eligible. Alaska Atmos Rewards: Platinum and Titanium members are not eligible. Hilton Honors: Only members at Base or Silver are processed; Gold and Diamond members are not.
- You get limited attempts: American AAdvantage: A member who joins an Instant Status Pass promotion cannot join another for two years. Southwest Rapid Rewards: One enrolment per 12-month period. Hilton Honors: Available once, to members who have not used it before. World of Hyatt: Premium Aeroplan cardholders get two challenge attempts per calendar year; other eligible members get an annual challenge. Choice Privileges: One status match per member, per lifetime. Time it deliberately.
Use the status planner to see how much activity a tier needs, and check current transfer bonuses if you plan to fund a challenge's flights or stays with points.
Related status match pages
Status challenge FAQ
What is a status challenge?
A status challenge gives you elite status for a trial period, then asks you to hit a flying, stay or spend target inside that window to keep it. Meet the target and the status is extended; miss it and the status expires.
What is the difference between a status match and a status challenge?
A status match grants status because you already hold status elsewhere. A status challenge is the earn-to-keep part: you must complete activity during a trial window. Many programmes combine the two, which is why Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, Hilton, and Wyndham describe a status match with a challenge attached. A fast track is a related offer, often tied to a partner, employer or credit card, that shortens the path to a tier.
Which airlines offer a status challenge?
Delta SkyMiles: Yes (match + earn); 90 days; Earn MQDs on Delta (about $1,250 for the lowest tier). United MileagePlus: Limited (offered in windows); 120 days (standard offer); PQF + PQP on United (Silver reported as 5 PQF / 1,700 PQP). American AAdvantage: Limited (Instant Status Pass); 4 months; Loyalty Points goal (about 13,000 for Gold). Alaska Atmos Rewards: Yes (match + earn); 90 days; 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 base points on Alaska or Hawaiian. Southwest Rapid Rewards: Limited (match + earn, ends Dec 30); 120 days; 3 round trips or 11,500 points for A-List. No standing challenge: JetBlue TrueBlue (Mosaic): No standing challenge. Check each programme's section above for details.
Which hotel programmes offer a status challenge?
Hilton Honors: Yes (match + stay); 90 days; 6 nights for Gold; 12 for Diamond. World of Hyatt: Limited (Aeroplan-linked); 90 days; 4 / 10 / 20 nights (Aeroplan-linked). Wyndham Rewards: Unclear (matches may be paused); 90 days; Reported 4 nights Platinum / 10 Diamond; verify. No standing challenge: Marriott Bonvoy: No published public challenge; IHG One Rewards: No standing public challenge; Choice Privileges: Match only, no challenge; Accor ALL: No standing public challenge; Best Western Rewards: Match only, no challenge. Check each programme's section above for details.
How long does a status challenge last?
The trial windows we found are 90 days (Delta, Alaska, Hilton, Hyatt, and Wyndham); 120 days (United and Southwest); 4 months (American). Programmes without a standing challenge have no fixed window, and offers can be shorter than the standard trial.
Can I do a status challenge if I already have status?
Usually not for the same or a lower tier. American AAdvantage: Members with equal or higher status, or with matched, transferred, lifetime or promotional status, are not eligible. Alaska Atmos Rewards: Platinum and Titanium members are not eligible. Hilton Honors: Only members at Base or Silver are processed; Gold and Diamond members are not. Other programmes set their own exclusions, so read the eligibility terms before you apply.
How many times can I do a status challenge?
Most offers limit attempts. American AAdvantage: A member who joins an Instant Status Pass promotion cannot join another for two years. Southwest Rapid Rewards: One enrolment per 12-month period. Hilton Honors: Available once, to members who have not used it before. World of Hyatt: Premium Aeroplan cardholders get two challenge attempts per calendar year; other eligible members get an annual challenge. Choice Privileges: One status match per member, per lifetime.
When is the best time of year to start a status challenge?
It depends on how the programme carries status forward. Delta SkyMiles: Earned extensions currently run through January 31, 2028; the end date moves with the Medallion year, so re-check it. American AAdvantage: Reaching the Loyalty Points goal keeps status into the next AAdvantage membership year. Alaska Atmos Rewards: A match made before June 30 carries status through the end of that calendar year; one made July 1 to December 31 carries through the end of the following year, if you meet the flight requirement. Choice Privileges: A match made January to June is valid for the current year; July to December, the current and following year. Check the programme's page for the dates that apply to you.
Are the terms on this page current?
We checked each programme's terms on October 13, 2026 using the sources listed under each programme, and we say so where a programme's own pages conflict or we could not confirm a figure. Challenge terms change without notice, so confirm the numbers on the programme's page before you enrol.