Delta Air Lines Offers Medallion Status Match to Southwest A-List Members

As Southwest Airlines works to elevate itself to a more premium carrier, Delta Air Lines is trying to draw some of its spurned travelers.

Delta announced a new status match program this week that will give Southwest A-List members Delta Gold Medallion status and Southwest A-List Preferred members Delta Platinum Medallion status.

Aside from the chance at upgrades, Gold and Platinum Delta members get earlier boarding groups, some waived baggage fees, and additional perks depending on their status level. Medallion members can also order personalized metal bag tags that show off their status when traveling.

Delta is not the first airline to try to woo Southwest frequent flyers — Frontier Airlines launched a similar “Your New Love” promotion earlier this month.

Both Delta and Frontier are targeting Southwest flyers who may have become disenchanted with the airline following its recent moves to drop open seating and free checked bags — policies that have long defined Southwest — in a bid to become more profitable.

Southwest is also introducing other changes, including a new basic economy fare that will not include the ability to choose seats or pay for extra legroom, a new flight credit policy, longer-haul flights, and more.