Delta Status Match Offer for Southwest Fliers

Through September 30th, Delta is offering an enhanced status match to Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred members.  This will get you Gold and Platinum Medallion Level respectively in SkyMiles.  Check the site for the specific details on how to do this and for how long the status match will last.  Also, if you aren't a SWA frequent flier, Delta offers a status match with many other airlines.  

Last Fall, when I went to London, I did a status match in which my SWA A-List Preferred (I have since been demoted to A-List not special) got me United's Gold level.  This came in handy as with it I was able to get lounge access for 3 of the 4 total flights (for the flight out of London, I used an Amex affiliate's lounge).  I was able to eat and drink for free (other than tips) at airports going to and coming home from the UK, which was quite the bonus.  I mention this because you too might be able to unlock something nice if applying a status match from your frequent flier program to one of an airline you don't use often.  

Austin's New Non-Stop Flights

 Here's an update of new non-stops from Austin, including but not limited to:

• Spirit will resume non-stop service to Detroit. 
• Frontier will start flying non-stop to San Diego.

Both of these flights will begin in June.

I have never flown on Spirit.  I'm aware of their reputation; however, I have been told that their Big Front Seat can be pleasant.  

Delta Switching from Lyft to Uber

 In case you missed the news, here's a reminder that Lyft is ending its partnership with Delta on April 7th.   Dollars spent on Uber rides will henceforth be able to earn Delta SkyMiles.  Lyft will continue to partner with Hilton offering hotel points for dollars spent on rides.  They also have partnerships with Alaska Airlines and Bilt Rewards, which I assume they are keeping.

For a while I've had it set so that my Lyft account fed Delta and Uber fed into Marriott Bonvoy.   The latter has been a good deal as I almost always book Uber Comfort (or above) and that gets triple Bonvoy points for every dollar spent.  However, double SkyMiles per dollar on Uber Comfort is tempting if you frequently fly on Delta (the Points Guy is currently valuing Delta points at 1.2¢ and Marriott Bonvoy points at .7¢). 

On a personal note vis a vis Uber: what I am sure of is that despite their pushing of Waymo, I will be sticking with human driven cars.  

REI Sale Starts Tomorrow

 

REI is having its usual March sale.  Members get 20% off one regular and one outlet item between 3/14-3/24.  Also, as I've mentioned before, the cobranded Mastercard is great if you are a frequent flier at REI (no annual fee, 5% back on REI purchases and 1.5% on everything else, access to Capital One shopping discounts).  Also, it's the only no annual fee card I have which also has no foreign transaction fees.  

On a different note, I have a lot of thoughts about the changes going on at Southwest Airlines which I hope to address in a post sometime soon.

Happy Birthday Gus!

 Gus, our Pyrador (Great Pyrenees and Labrador Retriever mix) and blog mascot, celebrated birthday number 6 yesterday.  It was a day filled with park time, walking, and a tasty "pupcake" from Woofgang Bakery.   

Gus was adopted from Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue back in 2020.  He was about 18 months old when we brought him home; before the rescuers found him he had been a living on the streets.  Ergo, we don't know the actual day he was born but we reckon that an awesome dog deserves a birthday celebration so March 12th was picked as being close enough.  

Delta Launching International Flight From Austin

 

The Delta Sky Club in Austin

According to KXAN, Delta will launch a seasonal flight from Austin to Cancun running from December-April.  This will be Delta's first international flight from Austin in 14 years.  Delta continues to increase routes from Austin (8 new this year) and is on track to replace American as the #2 carrier operating out of Austin's airport.  Southwest remains firmly in first place in terms of flights from our airport.

Read the previous post for more information about Sky Club access and the American Express relationship with Delta.