Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and the provide many of their own benefits to elite members of partner frequent flyer programs.
SkyTeam member China Southern is offering U.S. frequent flyers a status match — all you need to be is “an elite member of any other airline” (emphasis mine).
Email China Southern if you want a status match. Provide your China Southern frequent flyer account number (you’ll need to open one) and proof of your current airline status. Your matched status will be valid through February 2019.
United Golds and above, and American Platinums and above, will receive China Southern’s Sky Pearl Gold which is SkyTeam Elite Plus status. They’ll match even first-tier elite status (like United Silver) with their own Silver (SkyTeam Elite). And they’ll even match status from other SkyTeam programs.
SkyTeam Elite Plus status gets priority check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access when flying international economy. If you’re in business class you have lounge access anyway and unlike Star Alliance and oneworld status flying their respective U.S. airlines with SkyTeam you don’t get lounge access on Delta domestic flights.
However this is useful to have for boarding and checked bags if you’re an elite with a competing airline but sometimes fly Delta economy.
(HT: Loyalty Lobby)
Confused…how do you get the Delta status?
You get status useful on Delta not Delta status, apologies if this was confusing
If anyone can figure out how to sign up for the SkyPearl club and get the verification code to come through, let us know.
Having trouble signing up for a new account – anyone else having problems receiving the verification code on their phone?
Any way to actually sign up for their frequent flyer program if you live in the USA? They (foolishly) require an activation code sent to your smartphone and (surprise!) they seem incapable of getting that code to your USA phone number. It didn’t work for me, and I see others have had the same issue at Loyalty Lobby. I tried signing up on their app, but there they just rejected my English language name. Nice to spend money developing fancy, complicated int’l systems that actually prevent your customers from doing business with you.
Hi
I don’t suppose this would help with Delta awardvcancellation fees, would it?
Worked for me but I used my Chinese phone number
Can’t sign up for Sky Pearl because you never receive the validation code.
Looks like it’s a no go for U.S. customers.
It may be targeted … got this in an e-mail:
Special notice: Overseas Elite membership status match program is designed for invited customers. We understand you may get the info from families, colleagues or friends, but limited by the quality control we’ll serve our invited customers at the first priority. If you are not in our current list please allow us a little longer time for process. We’ll try our best to serve you as soon as possible.
Dear Valued Customers,
Your email is well received. Thanks for getting in touch with China Southern Airlines North America marketing dept. We’ll get back to you in 3-5 business days.
Special notice: Overseas Elite membership status match program is designed for invited customers. We understand you may get the info from families, colleagues or friends, but limited by the quality control we’ll serve our invited customers at the first priority. If you are not in our current list please allow us a little longer time for process. We’ll try our best to serve you as soon as possible.
CZ Marketing
尊敬的南航旅客，
感谢来洽南航北美市场部，您的来件已收悉，我们将在3-5个工作日内与您回复。
特别提示：“海外精英会员匹配”为定向邀约项目，专门为指定客户群体设计。我们理解您可能是从亲朋、同事处获悉此项目，感谢您对南航项目的喜爱与支持，但出于品质监控考虑，我们将优先处理在邀约列表中的旅客申请。如果您不是从南航官方的直接要约处获悉此项目，处理时间将稍有延迟，我们将尽快为您服务。
感谢您的理解与支持
南航北美市场部
Whadayamean ‘sometimes’ fly Delta coach? 😉 I only do that once in a while.
I used my Singapore number to get the code. Let’s see if the match goes through.
Don’t you get the same Delta status through their affiliated AMEX CC?
Anyone willing to share a Chinese or similar working phone number to allow sign up texts?
Oh well I’m sure Gary will get a lot of clicks even if this is totally impossible for customers with US telephone #s and names…
The online sign up for CZ is the worst kind , you will NEVER GET THE CODE. You need to call them on the toll free number and get the number. Please speak very S L O W L Y, call center girls are very very very bad in english and they will screw up your names, date of birth , email ID etc. Pathetic isn’t it. But if you need that status have patience.
How do you create a new Skypearl Club account? I see a login button for existing accounts, but no option to create a new account.
Just adding myself to the thread in case anyone solves the +1 phone problem.
I couldnt get code in usa also
Ok, here goes:
Got myself a China Southern Sky Pearl Club account (online it didn’t work, so I wrote them an e-mail, and they established the account within 24 hrs).
I then wrote to their marketing dept. requesting the status match (I am United Platinum which is equiv. to Star Alliance Gold, and consequently should bring Gold status with China Southern).
Here’s the reply from China Southern:
“Dear Valued Customers,
Your email is well received. Thanks for getting in touch with China Southern Airlines North America marketing dept. We’ll get back to you in 3-5 business days.
Special notice: Overseas Elite membership status match program is designed for invited customers. We understand you may get the info from families, colleagues or friends, but limited by the quality control we’ll serve our invited customers at the first priority. If you are not in our current list please allow us a little longer time for process. We’ll try our best to serve you as soon as possible.
CZ Marketing”
IOW: Looks like I’ll get it after a couple days. … I’m hoping …
I used a google voice phone number and it worked fine.
I applied on July 7, and have still yet to hear back, just as a data point.
It worked with Google Voice – thanks for the DP!
Thank you for reaching China Southern Airlines North America Regional Marketing Department, we will reply to you in 3-5 business days.
Special Note:
The “Elite Member Matches” project is specifically sent to members who have been pre-qualified. It’s not a public program. We noticed many irresponsible distribution and malicious reproduction of the project, as well as too much forged, altered application materials, China Southern Airlines North America will suspend the application of non-invited members.
If you are informed by our account manager, please include the name of the invitee or CC your account manager.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Southern China North America Marketing Department
感谢来信中国南方航空北美区域市场部，我们将在3-5个工作日回复您的来件。
特别提示：
“精英会员匹配”项目是专门针对已通过预审核的会员，点对点发布的，并非公众参与项目。由于近期我们收到了许多关于该项目不负责任的恶意转载，以及过多伪造、涂改的申请材料，即日起南航北美将暂停受理非邀请会员的申请。
如果您是通过我们客户经理邀约获悉，请在邮件标题里注明邀请人姓名或抄送邀请您的客户经理。
感谢您的理解与支持。
南航北美市场部
Based on most of the responses, this seems appropriate to call on the old proverb, “the road to hell was paved with good intentions”
and
“If it seems to good to be true, it probably is”-