News and notes from around the interweb:
- SkyTeam member Vietnam Airlines has offered status matches for the past year. But they’ve made an interesting change.
Vietnam Airlines will now match hotel status with Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham, Accor, and Radisson. These are paid matches through StatusMatch.com and provide benefits when traveling with Delta.
It’s fascinating that simply getting a credit card, which confers hotel status, can get you airline status. Normally that’s a feature for the airline – they want to acquire customers who sign up for airline credit cards! But Vietnam Airlines has no U.S. credit card partner – though both Mesa (earn points for your mortgage with no fee) and Rove points transfer to Vietnam Airlines.
Presidential Palace
Pho Hoa - Singapore Airlines brings back third champagne choice in first class. In addition to 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires and 2011 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose, routes will either have 2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut or Krug Grande Cuvée.
- Is Avelo repainting planes to hide their ICE deportation flights?
- Alaska Airlines eliminating the option to buy a seat for a pet, effective June 4.
Alaska Airlines is quietly eliminating a pet travel option
byu/AlaskaPetMovers inAlaskaAirlines - Courtyard in Denver, but every Marriott franchise property ever:
- Funny, I see the Amex cards. He sees the wallet itself:
I respectfully disagree. To me, this represents a poor financial decision. Let me show you why. https://t.co/063oGmIsZK
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) May 31, 2025
- What’s grosser than gross (American Airlines edition)
@AmericanAir customer service is a skill you don't have! Over a month later still waiting to hear from you about this sh11ty service!
#disgusting #gross #badcustomerservice #userexperiencefail pic.twitter.com/k0lwJfTwXc— rfid (@rfidjan) May 31, 2025
I’m all for status-matches, but not ‘purchasing’ them. Nice idea, but you’d have to justify that expense. Don’t chase status, let it come to you. Also, don’t hoard points.
Oh, and Gary, on that final image above, you forgot ‘Clean. Your. Planes.’ And, be sure to include, ‘Pay. Your. People.’ Because the planes don’t clean themselves.
Finally, on a fresh coat of paint to cover-up your complicity… a tale as old as time. I believe the Soviets would use red paint. Oof.
Hi Gary-what are the perks of the status on Delta?
Thanks!
Gary, your headline reads “Got Marriott, Hilton Or Hyatt Status? Here’s How To Use It For Delta Flight Perks.” But you provide no information on how to use it for Delta Flight Perks. More info, please.
You didn’t mention there is a fee to apply for the status match – $99. or $199. depending on level you want – and the highest level costs $299 for airline match and is not available for hotel match.
@Theresa “You didn’t mention there is a fee to apply for the status match ”
I didn’t? “These are paid matches through StatusMatch.com and provide benefits when traveling with Delta.”
I have a ridiculous amount of mid to top-tier airline and hotel program elite status level memberships nowadays — AA, A3, BA, DL, DY, AF/KL, LH, SK, & TG for airlines; Accor, Best Western, Choice, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Preferred, Radisson, Scandic, Strawberry and a couple more for hotels — so paying up money for a status match doesn’t suit me. [My favorite elite status level is in a railway program even as some may want to award me with “basement-dwelling dweeb” status.]
But I’ll consider buying status as a gift for some of my relatives, friends & select others who fly Delta and other SkyTeam airlines.